THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAKE TOBA TOURISM BY STRENGTHENING LOCAL WISDOM

Tourism activities become one of the necessities of modern life. The existence of the tourism sector plays a role in the economic development of a country in the world. This sector also indirectly contributes a significant impact in the development of culture in Indonesia, especially in the Lake Toba region. To develop the tourism in the Lake Toba, the role of local wisdom which spreads in the surrounding area can be a special attraction to invite tourist arrivals, besides its conservation and its magnificent natural view. This research employs a research and development approach using exploratory methods. Meanwhile, the analysis method used the analysis of Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats (SWOT) to analyze the potential and the problems. The finding indicates that Lake Toba has potentials that can be developed to increase local tourism, those include local customs and culture, local arts, natural tourism, local culinary, heritage and traditional and cultural festivities in each region. The development of tourism focusing on local-wisdom-based can be performed by revitalizing tourist attractions, tourist promotion, and cooperation through partnerships and all related elements. The development of Lake Toba tourism through strengthening the local wisdom is a form of local culture that has a strategic value to increase local revenues which eventually improve the welfare of local communities in the area.