Potensi dan Profil Wisatawan Destinasi Wisata Sipinsur di Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan Kecamatan Paranginan Desa Pearung

Abstract

Sipinsur Tourism Destination is one of the natural tourism areas located within the Toba Caldera region, specifically in Pearung Village, Paranginan District, Humbang Hasundutan Regency. Its main attraction lies in the expansive view of Lake Toba from above, combined with the beauty of pine forests and the cool mountain air. This research is motivated by the importance of developing tourism destinations based on local potential and understanding the profiles of visiting tourists. The research questions addressed are: what are the potentials of the Sipinsur tourism destination, and what are the profiles and behaviors of the visitors? The objective of this study is to explore the existing potentials and analyze the tourist profiles in order to provide a more targeted development strategy. The method used in this research is a descriptive qualitative approach through field observations, interviews with site managers and local communities, as well as data collection from visitor records in 2024. The data were thematically analyzed to describe the physical potential, geological features, forest ecosystem, educational values, local culture, as well as accessibility and supporting facilities available in the Sipinsur area.The research findings indicate that Sipinsur holds significant potential through its scenic landscape of Lake Toba, geological formations as part of the Toba Caldera, pine forest areas suitable for nature and educational tourism, and local wisdom preserved within the surrounding community. Supporting facilities such as parking areas, food stalls, public toilets, and road access are available, although improvements are still needed. The majority of tourists come from North Sumatra and nearby provinces, predominantly aged between 20–40 years, with primary motivations for family recreation and nature exploration.The conclusion of this study is that the Sipinsur tourism destination possesses great potential to be developed as a leading nature and culture-based tourism site in the Lake Toba region, through promotional and management strategies aligned with visitor characteristics and the area’s local assets.