The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is pressing the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to ensure coastal tourist destinations meet disaster mitigation standards, particularly against the looming threat of a megathrust earthquake.
In response to potential megathrust earthquakes off the coasts of Java and Sumatra, BMKG is advocating for strengthened safety protocols in tourist areas, emphasizing the need for clear evacuation signs and robust emergency management in hotels and resorts.
Current Mitigation Standards
BMKG’s Oceanic and Pacific Tsunami Mitigation Division Head, Suci Anugrah, highlighted that many hotels and tourist destinations currently overlook basic earthquake and tsunami mitigation standards, such as clearly marked evacuation routes and emergency exits.
Photo: Indonesia Travel (2024)
Enhanced Safety Measures Proposed
BMKG recommends the establishment of comprehensive safety and evacuation standards, including visible signage and accessible emergency exits, to improve responsiveness during disasters.
Implementation of Disaster Preparedness
BMKG suggests three stages of mitigation for the tourism sector: establishing effective evacuation systems, providing disaster preparedness information, and ensuring continuous access to updated BMKG data for all hospitality managers.
International Standards Adoption
BMKG emphasizes the adoption of the International Standardization Organization (ISO) 22328 on emergency management, encouraging tourism operators to integrate these standards into their disaster management plans.
Read More: Megathrust Earthquakes: Indonesia Braces for Potentially Catastrophic Events
Multi-party Involvement
The success of these measures relies on the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including local governments, tourism boards, and emergency services, to implement and maintain these standards effectively.
The increased disaster preparedness in Indonesian tourist destinations aims to enhance safety and ensure a resilient tourism sector capable of facing megathrust earthquake threats.
BMKG is pushing for higher disaster mitigation standards in Indonesia’s tourist areas to protect against potential megathrust earthquakes. These efforts focus on establishing clear evacuation procedures and improving overall safety infrastructure to safeguard both tourists and residents.
Sources: Tempo, Tribun News (2024)
