Empowerment of Ulos Weaver Women For Tourism Development

Ulos weavers in LumbanSuhisuhiToruanSamosir is a form of cultural preservation of the Batak Toba community, as well as a community strategy to improve its economy. Batak Toba Ulos Industry in LumbanSuhisuhi also become one of tourist attraction to come and get to know Batak Toba culture in Samosir Island. Therefore it is necessary to empower the community, especially women in improving the creativity and attractiveness of ulos. This study aims to describe the empowerment of women in the framework of tourism development in the Tourism Village of ulos weaving handicraft in LumbanSuhisuhiToruanSamosir Sumatera Utara. This research is descriptive qualitative by using ethnography approach. Data collection is done by searching documentation, observation and direct interview to informant. Informants are Ulos Weavers, Indigenous Peoples, and Village Heads. The result of the research is that empowerment of ulos weavers, especially women need to be done based on the culture and local wisdom of Batak Toba community, so that empowerment can succeed. Such empowerment is conducting training to improve the quality of ulos motifs and forms in accordance with Toba Batak culture, and the provision of technology that can be used to improve the quality and quantity of ulos. Weaver's empowerment is also done through involvement in marketing, such as attraction to the meaning and usefulness of ulos to tourists, and demonstration of ulos-making.