Geotourism as a 16-Geosite Empowerment Strategy—For Tourism Sustainability in Toba Caldera Geopark

Abstract

The study on empowerment strategies for tourism sustainability was carried out in 16 geosites located in seven regencies. These include Karo, Dairi, Simalungun, Samosir, Toba Samosir, North Tapanuli, and Humbang Hasundutan, in Toba Caldera Region (TCA), North Sumatra Province. The empowerment strategies will enhance local and national tourism development policy directives, boost development geared towards community tourism interests, and achieve GGN directives according to the concepts outlined by UNESCO. This geotourism development has been formulated through a synthesis of various investigations including the analyses of government references, potential tourist attractions, and SWOT. Furthermore, the SWOT analysis showed that a travel plan combining the elements of cultural heritage and geosites is an alternative empowerment for sustainable regional development through geotourism, using Pusuk Bukit as a pilot area. Geosites have been mapped as the basis for Toba Caldera’s development.