Strategy for Developing Lake Toba Tourism Potential

Abstract

Lake Toba has great potential as a national leading tourist destination with extraordinary natural and cultural wealth. However, tourism development in the region still faces various challenges, such as limited infrastructure, lack of empowerment of local communities, and low utilization of digital technology in promotion. This study aims to evaluate the strategy for developing the tourism potential of Lake Toba with a focus on improving the quality of local stakeholders. The approach used was qualitative with a case study method, involving in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and documentation studies of 25 participants. The results of the study show that collaboration between the government, local communities, and the private sector is the key to sustainable tourism development. Infrastructure needs to be improved, cultural preservation must be strengthened, and destination promotion must rely more on digital media. In addition, human resource training and environmental management are important aspects to realize an inclusive and sustainable tourism ecosystem. This study recommends a holistic approach based on cross-sector collaboration to optimize the tourism potential of Lake Toba.