From tourism-first to disaster-first: A trade-off in geopark development after environmental shock

This study investigates the dynamic balance between tourism development and disaster risk management in the Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark, Indonesia. It is a complex social-ecological system where competing priorities shape sustainability outcomes. Addressing a practical and theoretical gap in understanding how geopark governance adapts after environmental shocks, the research analyzes shifts in development priorities and stakeholder orientations before and after the 2024 flash-flood disaster. This study has employed a mixed-methods approach which integrates spatial land use analysis (2015–2023) with the analytic hierarchy process and confirmatory factor analysis to quantify multi-actor priorities. The results indicate that, during post-designation (2018–2023), built-up areas expanded by 57%, while agricultural and forest lands declined, reflecting a dominant “tourism-first” orientation. Following the disaster, priorities shifted toward mitigation, community safety, and environmental protection, marking a transition to a “resilience-first” model. The study contributes to sustainability science by integrating trade-off theory, adaptive governance, and disaster-induced transformation to explain how crises catalyze value realignment. Importantly, opportunities for governmental intervention vary significantly across countries, as some geoparks operate as private or quasi-private enterprises, and governance effectiveness depends on the availability of skilled personnel, which is often limited. These variations underscore the need for measurable, globally comparable management standards to ensure quality, strengthen risk-sensitive planning, and maintain the conservation and educational mission of geoparks beyond purely economic objectives.