Toba Dalam Sastra: Peran Tiga Novel Indonesia dalam Promosi Destinasi Wisata Toba di Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Facts show that literature and tourism are interrelated and affect each other. Literary writers are inspired by tourism activities and attraction, while their works directly or indirectly introduce and promote a tourist destination. The objective of this research is to examine the roles of three Indonesian novels, ve.. Sordam (2010) by Suhunan Situmorang. ToBa Dreams (2015) by T.B Silalahi, and Tepi Toha (2019) by Muram Batu to promote Toba tourist destination in North Sumatra Province. This research employs descriptive interpretive method with phenomenological paradigm. Primary data are sourced from the three novels, in the form of four components of tourisin, namely attractions, amenities, access, and ancillary services, and from interviews as well as field observations. They are collected and analyzed together with the secondary data obtained from books, journals, reviews, and online media using a tourism literary approach with the help of mimetic, expressive and pragmatic theories. The results of the research indicate that 1) the four tourism components portrayed are inutations of the reality in the four districts in North Sumatra that surround Lake Toba, namely Simalungun, Samosir, Toba, and North Tapanuli Regencies, 2) the three novels convey messages of preserving the nature and environment of Lake Toba maintaining the Foha Batak culnwal heritage, creating comfort and safety for residents and tourists, and eliminating the stigma of the Toba Batak sub-ethnic group: and 3) the three noveis play active roles to promote Toba tourist destination by offering a new way of promotion, storynomics treasures, new images, and a boost of creative economy industry. This research donates to development of literary tourism approach and urges tourism stakeholders to comprehend the contribution of literary works to tourism promotion and the tourism sector's contribution to development of literary works