Melaka is preparing to present 29 geosites in its bid for National Geopark status.
Melaka Tourism Promotion Division general manager Nasrul Ahmad said the sites’ geological features were closely intertwined with the state’s history and heritage.
He added that the 29 potential geosites, collectively named “Aspiring Melaka Geopark” and identified in collaboration with Minerals and Geoscience Department, were spread across Melaka Tengah, Jasin and Alor Gajah districts.
“Unlike geoparks that are concentrated within a single area, Melaka has 29 potential geosites located across all three districts,” Nasrul said in an interview.
Among the sites are Pulau Upeh, Pulau Besar and Telok Mas in Melaka Tengah, Empangan Jus and Bukit Batu Lebah in Jasin, as well as the coastal formations of Tanjung Tuan and Tanjung Bidara in Alor Gajah.
Nasrul said the sites could be developed into distinctive tourism products combining the geological attractions with stories from Melaka’s past.
He cited Pulau Upeh, where traces of laterite quarrying were discovered, as an example of the connection between the state’s natural formations and its historical development.
Based on information provided by the department, laterite from the island was believed to have been used in structures built during the Melaka Sultanate and later in construction of the A Famosa fortress.
“Our geological heritage can be interpreted alongside the history and cultural legacy of the state, giving Aspiring Melaka Geopark tremendous tourism potential.”
Nasrul said the state government has been preparing the geopark bid since 2022, with an official assessment by the authorities scheduled for November.
He said engagement sessions with tourism operators and other stakeholders were being intensified as the bid entered a crucial stage.
“The engagement sessions are an essential requirement in the application for National Geopark recognition,” he added.
