Lenggong Valley In Malaysia: A Unesco Global Geopark Recognized For Its Rich Heritage And Sustainable Tourism Potential

Published on September 14, 2025

Lenggong Valley successful Perak, Malaysia, received a important honour successful September 2025 erstwhile it was formally recognised arsenic a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) astatine nan 11th International Conference connected Global Geoparks, which took spot successful Chile. In summation to showcasing nan Lenggong Valley’s unique geological and archaeological legacy, this esteemed nickname represents a turning constituent for nan area’s tourism sector. Lenggong joins a world effort centred connected sustainable improvement by joining nan UGGp network, which combines section economical advantages pinch biology preservation.

Being nan location of nan Perak Man skeleton, nan oldest and astir complete quality remains from nan Palaeolithic era successful Southeast Asia, Lenggong has agelong been renowned for its extended archaeological past. This UNESCO Global Geopark nickname strengthens nan valley’s tourism instauration by promoting some practice conservation and organization improvement by highlighting its geological wonders successful summation to archaeology.

Geological and Archaeological Significance of Lenggong Valley

Lenggong Valley is located successful nan bluish portion of Perak, Malaysia, and is characterised by its stunning limestone hills, caves, and intricate geological formations. The valley’s geological scenery has been shaped complete millions of years, making it a captious location for technological study and tourism. Within this rich | landscape, Lenggong is location to much than 50 cardinal geological sites, including prehistoric caves and ancient stream beds, providing a surviving history of Earth’s formation.

However, it is not only Lenggong’s geological formations that pull attention. The vale is besides recognised for its value successful knowing quality prehistory. The find of nan Perak Man, a 10,000-year-old quality skeleton, placed nan area connected nan world representation arsenic a cardinal tract for Palaeolithic research. Other archaeological findings, including chromatic devices and grounds of ancient settlements, further found Lenggong arsenic a unsocial archaeological wealth trove. Together, these elements lend to Lenggong’s dual nickname arsenic some a geological and archaeological hotspot, offering a divers scope of experiences for visitors.

The Journey to UNESCO Recognition

Lenggong’s roadworthy to UNESCO Global Geopark position began successful 2012 erstwhile it was first inscribed arsenic a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognising its archaeological value nether nan title “Archaeological Heritage of nan Lenggong Valley”. The nickname was based connected nan valley’s rich | postulation of prehistoric sites, which supply invaluable insights into nan early improvement of quality civilisations successful Southeast Asia.

The modulation to a UNESCO Global Geopark builds connected this earlier achievement, adding a furniture of nickname that combines biology sustainability pinch taste heritage. The UGGp position is much than conscionable a title; it represents a committedness to nan sustainable improvement of nan region done geotourism. The effort to unafraid this nickname progressive collaboration betwixt nan Perak authorities government, section communities, and nan Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, arsenic good arsenic world institutions and practice experts.

Impact of UNESCO Global Geopark Status connected Tourism and Local Economy

The nickname of Lenggong arsenic a UNESCO Global Geopark has paved nan measurement for a caller era of tourism successful nan region. UGGp sites are designed to beryllium sustainable, balancing nan needs of nan environment, practice preservation, and economical development. For Lenggong, this nickname is expected to unlock a scope of opportunities for tourism that tin thrust section economical maturation without compromising nan valley’s taste and earthy resources.

Local communities guidelines to use importantly from nan boost successful tourism brought astir by nan UGGp status. Economic opportunities will look successful various sectors, including eco-tourism, handicraft production, accepted nutrient offerings, and homestays. These businesses will not only supply jobs but will besides let section residents to stock their practice pinch visitors. Moreover, arsenic nan tourism assemblage grows, opportunities for mini and mean enterprises (SMEs) are apt to expand, strengthening nan section system and creating caller sources of income.

The authorities government has expressed its committedness to ensuring that nan improvement of Lenggong’s tourism infrastructure remains successful statement pinch sustainable principles. Conservation efforts, specified arsenic nan protection of archaeological sites and nan attraction of section ecosystems, will beryllium integral to ensuring that nan region remains a viable tourism destination for years to come.

Community Involvement and Capacity Building

One of nan cardinal components of Lenggong’s travel to becoming a UNESCO Global Geopark has been nan progressive engagement of nan section community. The occurrence of a geopark relies connected nan engagement of its residents, and successful Lenggong, this has been made imaginable done various initiatives designed to build section capacity and consciousness of nan benefits of geopark status.

Training programmes person been introduced to amended nan skills of section circuit guides, artisans, and hospitality providers. These programmes purpose to heighten nan value of services offered to visitors while besides ensuring that visitors person an authentic and acquisition experience. Furthermore, section residents person been actively progressive successful nan guidance of nan park, contributing to nan preservation of their practice while besides benefiting from nan economical opportunities that tourism provides.

The Future of Lenggong Valley arsenic a Sustainable Geopark

Looking forward, Lenggong Valley intends to go a exemplary for sustainable geopark development. The extremity is to merge biology protection, practice conservation, and economical maturation into a cohesive and sustainable framework. Efforts will attraction connected expanding nan number of geosites wrong nan valley, improving visitant facilities, and promoting Lenggong arsenic a starring ecotourism destination.

Moreover, nan Perak authorities government has made it clear that preserving Lenggong’s practice and earthy beauty will stay a priority. The equilibrium betwixt preserving nan valley’s taste and biology assets while fostering economical improvement will beryllium cardinal to ensuring its semipermanent occurrence arsenic a UNESCO Global Geopark.

As portion of this vision, nan authorities government plans to create further tourism infrastructure, specified arsenic eco-lodges and interpretive centres, that will thief amended visitors astir nan valley’s unsocial geological and archaeological significance. These projects will not only heighten nan visitant acquisition but will besides guarantee that nan economical benefits of tourism are shared by nan section communities.

Conclusion

An important turning constituent successful Malaysia’s efforts to protect and beforehand its earthy and taste practice has been reached pinch nan nickname of Lenggong Valley arsenic a UNESCO Global Geopark. This accomplishment emphasises really important it is for section communities, governments, and acquisition institutions to activity together to create sustainable tourism destinations that use nan section populace arsenic good arsenic nan environment.

Lenggong’s capacity to onslaught a equilibrium betwixt practice preservation and economical description will beryllium intimately observed arsenic it develops further arsenic a exemplary for sustainable geopark development. Lenggong offers visitors a singular chance to brushwood a location wherever quality and history coexist peacefully, providing a adjacent relationship to nan rich | geological formations that person shaped Southeast Asia and nan earliest quality life there.

With its caller nickname arsenic a UNESCO Global Geopark, Lenggong Valley is group to go a celebrated destination for visitors from each complete nan world who want to acquisition nan sustainability and beauty of nan area successful summation to learning astir its ancient past.

[Image Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre Official Website]