Analysis of potential and feasibility level of simarjarunjung nature tourism as part of Lake Toba national super priority destination

Abstract

Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra Province, has Simarjarungjung Nature Tourism area which is one of the attractions along the north side of Lake Toba. The Simarjarunjung area is an alternative destination for tourists because this area is a location that can be used as a vantage point to see the landscape of Lake Toba, as well as a stopover location for tourists visiting various attractions in the Lake Toba surrounding area. The objective of this study is to analyze potential of the natural tourism objects and feasibility level of developing the natural attractions in the Simarjarunjung area. The analytical method used in this study refers to the guidelines for Operational Area Analysis of Natural Tourism Objects and Attractions (henceforth referred to as ADO-ODTWA) issued by the Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (henceforth referred to as Dirjen PHKA) in 2003. Data are collected through surveys by direct observation and interviews using questionnaires to visitors. The Simarjarunjung Nature Tourism Area has several potential natural attractions, first, beauty of the natural scenery where visitors can look at the view of Lake Toba and green hills surrounding it and experience the microclimate of the mountains with cool, clean and comfortable air. Second; potential diversity of exotic flora and fauna such as pine (Pinus merkussi), red shoots (Syzygium oleana), various orchid plants, various flower plants, especially miana (Coleus scutellarioides), long-tailed monkey (M fascicularis) and eagle (Haliastur sp); and the third, natural recreational rides such as camping ground and parks. The results show that the potential objects in the Simarjarunjung Nature Tourism area are classified into “feasible to develop” category into tourism with a feasibility index of 79.56.