Integrating Agritourism with Mt. Sinabung Eruption in History, Beautiful Lake
Reported by: Setiawan Liu
Medan, 8 January, 2021/Indonesia Media – The memory of Mount Sinabung, a volcano in the Karo highlands, North Sumatra (North Sumatra) which erupted in 2010, 2013, 2018 is history, although it is still a favorite destination for climbers and tourists from various regions, including Jakarta. So that PT Pandawa Agro Sumatera plans to develop a tourism sector based on agriculture and plantations, especially beneng taro and cavendish banana. Historical tourism activities (the eruption of Mount Sinabung) and the natural beauty of Lake Toba are blended with the atmosphere of a walk to breathe fresh air. “The view of the garden with green leaves of beneng taro, in the form of waves, is very rare for tourists to find in big cities in Indonesia, especially Jakarta,” said General Manager of PT Pandawa Agro Yendi Sembiring.
The concept of historical tourism and the natural beauty of Lake Toba plus agro can boost the local economy. In addition, the covid pandemic conditions that are still whacking are also relevant to efforts to improve the agricultural sector and food security. As the strato or layered type of Mount Sinabung, this is the highest volcano in North Sumatra, and is the second highest peak in this province after Mount Sibuatan with an altitude of 2,451 meters. The volcano erupting in 2013 also made local residents live temporarily in evacuation. “But the relocation of refugees has been effective. Pak Jokowi (Indonesian President Joko Widodo) had time to review and immediately ordered the handling of refugees in 2017. Now, the condition has turned into a tourist destination. If you trace (go up) to the top of 2000, walk upwards, there are clusters of residents who may have also been displaced (when Sinabung erupted). There are lodging places for tourists,”said Sembiring
From the former refugee camps, tourists can browse to Lake Toba with arranged access. The journey from Mount Sinabung, through the vast Lake Toba, is not a short trip, but fun. If tourists want to see various interesting spots while exploring the lake, (the trip) can take 5 – 6 hours. Lake Toba passes through five districts namely Karo, Simalungun, Toba Samosir, Mandailing, Deli Serdang. Tourists usually head to Parapat via Simalungun. “Tour around Mount Sinabung, while being able to pick passion fruit, beneng taro, Cavendish banana. Existing now, there is a community owned plantation. There is a traditional market. If you want to enter Tongging Village (Karo District), you will be planting onions. Next to the lake, there is a KJA (floating net cage) with goldfish, carp, tilapia. Visitors can fish and barbecue. So I am sure that agro-tourism plus historical tourism and natural beauty can be realized, “ said Sembiring.(sl/IM)
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