YOGYAKARTA — A lecturer and researcher at UIN Sunan Kalijaga has published a Q1 Scopus-indexed international journal study warning that weak safety standards and inadequate environmental governance are placing visitors and fragile ecosystems at risk across Indonesia’s karst cave tourism sector.

The research was conducted by Trio Yonathan Teja Kusuma, a lecturer in Industrial Engineering at the university’s Faculty of Science and Technology. The study focuses on the development of a sustainable geotourism management model based on macro-ergonomics, using Gua Jomblang in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, as a case study.

The study highlights a growing number of accidents at natural tourism sites across Indonesia in recent years, including falls, lost visitors and incidents linked to inadequate safety procedures. These cases, the research notes, point to broader weaknesses in governance, risk mitigation and operational preparedness at tourism destinations.

Uncontrolled tourism development has also intensified environmental degradation in karst areas, including declining water quality, increasing waste, loss of vegetation and damage to landscapes caused by mass tourism. Weak oversight, fragmented policy implementation and limited awareness of the restricted carrying capacity of karst ecosystems have further worsened the situation.

Indonesia has around 154,000 square kilometers of karst landscapes — the largest in Southeast Asia — and more than 2,700 cave entrances with high scientific, ecological, geological and aesthetic value. However, many of these sites still lack adequate conservation standards and comprehensive safety systems.

Kusuma’s research finds that conventional tourism management frameworks, such as the widely used “4A” concept — attraction, accessibility, amenities and ancillary services — are no longer sufficient to address the complexity and vulnerability of karst environments. The study argues that karst tourism requires management models that are measurable, adaptive and conservation-oriented.

The core contribution of the research is a geotourism management model that integrates three strategic pillars — geoconservation, geoeducation and the socio-economic empowerment of local communities — with the concept of a Memorable Tourism Experience (MTE). Under this framework, tourism experiences must prioritize safety, enjoyment and education while avoiding environmental damage.

Field observations at Gua Jomblang identified common challenges at karst destinations nationwide, including waste accumulation, damage to rock formations, microclimate changes and uncontrolled seasonal tourism pressure. The proposed model was developed through participatory ergonomics, involving site managers, guides, tourists and local communities, and produced practical strategies such as standardized safety procedures, cave monitoring systems and spatial zoning.

“The success of karst geotourism depends on creating experiences that are safe, enjoyable and informative without sacrificing environmental preservation,” Kusuma said. “Karst cave ecosystems are extremely fragile. Once damaged, recovery is almost impossible.”

The study is expected to inform policymakers, destination managers and tourism stakeholders in developing safer and more sustainable karst tourism management across Indonesia.