The annual cultural event, Geopark Night Specta (GNS) 8.0, has once again achieved a proud milestone by being included in the Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2026. This achievement also marks the third consecutive time that the international-scale event has been recognized as one of the 125 featured national tourism agendas by the Ministry of Tourism.
The Regent of Gunungkidul, Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, personally received the certificate of recognition during the event's peak night in the Nglanggeran Ancient Volcano area on Saturday (11/7/2026). On that occasion, she emphasized that this status is a testament to the region's commitment to managing the Gunung Sewu UNESCO Global Geopark area sustainably.
Endah stressed that geopark development must not focus solely on tourism aspects, but must also address community empowerment, education, and nature conservation. Given that out of a total of 33 geosites in the Gunung Sewu area, 13 are located in the Gunungkidul region, she views this geological wealth as a trust that must be managed wisely for the welfare of the local residents.
The Gunungkidul Regency Government is committed to continuing to strengthen the tourism and creative economy sectors through the support of the 2026 DIY Special Status Funds. The main focus of future development is to deliver inclusive quality tourism, in harmony with environmental conservation principles, to ensure that the benefits of development can be felt equally by all levels of society.
