Samosir, North Sumatera, ABIM (10/10/2023) – The Directorate General (Ditjen) of Housing of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has improved uninhabitable houses into Tourism Residential Facilities (Sarhunta) in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, a Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP). A comprehensive optimization effort was undertaken to enhance 607 residential neighborhoods, with the aim of facilitating tourism activities and promoting environmental planning through community participation.
Basuki Hadimuljono, minister of the PUPR, stated that the renovation of residents’ houses into tourism residences followed an empowerment model, in order to ensure that the local communities not only served as spectators, but also gained economic benefits from the tourism industry.
“The renovation can be used for tourist cottage businesses and other businesses that support the tourism sector. It is hoped that this method will boost the local economy,” Minister Basuki said.
Using a 2020 budget of IDR 121.9 billion, the Sumatra II Housing Provision Implementation Center (BP2P) constructed Sarhunta in the Lake Toba region. Rehabilitation of 607 unsuitable residences for residents, including 569 houses designated as homestay businesses, 1 art gallery unit, 4 shop units, 30 for kiosks or cafés, and the remaining 3 houses for other tourism-related businesses like food stalls.
According to Bramantyo, head of the Region I Section of the Sumatra II Housing Provision Implementation Center, the design for renovating residents’ houses into tourism residential facilities has been modified to be more modern, but does not abandon the local wisdom of the Batak people. There are still some homestays in Samosir Regency that adhere to the traditional Rumah Bolon model, such as the ones in Lumban Suhi-suhi Village (near Ulos Huta Raja Village) and Lumban Siallagan Village (near Ulos Siallagan Village).
“This tourism residential facility can be an alternative accommodation for tourists visiting Lake Toba. It is hoped that by improving the quality of the houses of residents, tourists who stay overnight will be more comfortable,” Bramantyo said.
In addition to the 607 Sarhunta, the PUPR Ministry has upgraded the quality of 1,192 homes in the Toba, Samosir, North Tapanuli, Simalungun, Humbang Hasundutan, and Dairi Regencies that make up the Lake Toba tourist area. The government’s plan to promote tourism on Lake Toba by making it a safer, more comfortable, and higher-class international destination includes improving the quality of homes owned by locals in the tourism region so that they are habitable.
Tetty Naibaho, head of the Samosir Regency Culture and Tourism Service, stated that the homestay constructed by the PUPR Ministry was instrumental in attracting more tourists to Lake Toba. Apart from having a design that conveys local wisdom, it is also strategically located around a tourist village, making it easier for tourists to access directly to the tourist destination of Lake Toba and its surroundings.
This year, we aim to attract 850 thousand visitors to North Sumatra; by 2024, that number will increase to one million. “We hope that the duration of tourists’ stay will increase, now it is still 1.5 days, we need two to three days so that spending will be higher,” Tetty remarked.(ABIM)
