Study on Attraction Elements based on Environment at the Village of

Sianjur Mula-Mula

Nurlisa Ginting

1,2

and Eric Yohanta

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, North Sumatra,

Indonesia

Toba Lake & Sustainable Tourism Working Group, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Keywords: Tourism, Tourist Destination, Environment, Sianjur Mula-Mula Village, Samosir.

Abstract: Attraction is an important thing because it is the main attraction and the main thing the tourists see when

they want to visit and enjoy a place. Successful attraction always has a supportive environment. Sianjur

Mula-Mula Village has the potential to be a tourist destination that has a variety of attractions, but the lack

of activity and environmental conditions which is less supporting causes the area less visited by tourists.

The purpose of this study is to develop tourist attractions in Sianjur Mula-Mula village with the concept of

environment-based attractions. This research uses mix method by combining tourism attraction element and

environment with direct observation to SianjurMula-Mula village, questionnaire distribution of one hundred

questionnaires, depth interview with five stakeholders in the area and the surrounding community. The

results show that there is a lack of preservation of environmental conditions at existing attractions and

access from every attraction is still the main thing in the development of tourism in this area followed by

education and behavior.

1 INTRODUCTION

Attraction is one of the most important elements that

must exist in a tourism. Without exist of attraction

then the tourism won’t be excited. Attractions are

the main capital in attracting tourists to come to the

location. Tourist attraction is the main element

driving the tourism to a destination (Ismayanti,

Gunn, Leiper, 2011).

Successful attractions always have a supportive

environment. The environment becomes the

supporter through the development of a tourist

destination area. The environment affects

individuals who will come to the tourist (Hamalik,

2006) the environment is something that exists in the

natural surroundings that have meaning or a

particular effect to the individual (Holden, 2008).

There will be the influence of environment elements

which are activity, behavior, education, and

conditions of the environment itself.

Sianjur Mula Village is one of 12 villages in

Sianjur Mula-Mula subdistrict located west of

Pangururan, Samosir. Sianjur Mula-Mula Village

has a lot of tourism potential that is environmentally

based example nature tourism, spiritual tourism,

agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, and artificial

tourism. Based on the development vision of Sianjur

Mula Mula Village, the tourism sector is a sector

that will be developed to realize the welfare of

society. However, the development of tourist

attractions in this village and the less environment

element become one of the issues. Sianjur Mula-

Mula village has excellent tourism potential if those

are developed properly.

There is a need to study about environment-

based tourism attractions because Sianjur Mula-mula

area strong in the environment to be the center of the

tourist destination because of the environmental

approach is a learning approach that seeks to

increase the involvement of tourists through the

utilization of the environment as a source of learning

(Wahyuni, 2009). The purpose of this study is to

identify the development of tourist attractions with

environment-based. Expectation of this research is to

help to improve the development of environment-

based tourism attractions in the village of Sianjur

Mula-Mula.

318

Ginting, N. and Yohanta, E.

Study on Attraction Elements based on Environment at the Village of Sianjur Mula-Mula.

DOI: 10.5220/0009902200002480

In Proceedings of the International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (ICNRSD 2018), pages 318-324

ISBN: 978-989-758-543-2

2 ATTRACTION AND

ENVIRONMENT

2.1 Attractions

Tourist attractions or tourist destination areas is the

main motivation for tourists in conducting tourist

visits (Witt & Mountinho, 1994). Furthermore, the

attraction is a significant component in attracting

tourists, the attraction is the main capital (tourism

resources) or the source of tourism(Suwena and

Widyatmaja,2010). An attraction is one of the

important tourism products to be developed in a

tourist area. The elements contained in the attraction

include natural tourism attractions (geographical and

natural resources), artificial tourism attractions

(buildings and tourism infrastructure), cultural

attractions (history and folklore, religion and art),

and social tourism attractions (views of life,

language, social activities of local people)

(Middleton, 2009).

Tourism is the most interesting factor of the

actors of tourism, in this case, both natural and

cultural attractions. Sightseeing is everything that

becomes a tourist target, such as a forest, river, lake,

beach, sea, museum or other traditional culture. It

can be concluded that the tourist attraction is

everything that has the beauty, which is valuable,

both in the form of natural attractions, cultural

attractions, and also, as well as man-made become

factors of attraction and become tourist purpose of

destination, which makes tourists motivated to do

tours to these attractions (Fandeli,2001)

2.2 Environment

Tourism is an industry which determined by good

and bad environment. Without a good environment,

it is impossible for tourism to flourish. Therefore,

the development of tourism should pay attention to

the preservation of environmental quality, because

that is the thing sold in the environmental tourism

industry (A. Hari Karyono, 1997). According to

Prof. Dr. ST. Munadjat Danusaputro, SH, the living

environment are all things and conditions, including

man and the behavior of his deeds, which is

contained in the space where man is located and

affect the life and welfare of humans and other

living bodies.

"The place or the natural environment around

where anyone can learn or change the behavior of

the place can be categorized as a learning place

which means learning resources, such as libraries,

markets, museums, rivers, mountains, garbage

dumps, fish ponds, etc."(Abdul,2009)

It can be concluded that the environment is any

form in which there is activity, behavior, condition

,and education. With this, it can be concluded that

the attraction has a supporting factor those are

natural attractions, cultural attractions, and artificial

attractions, while the forming factor for the

environment is activity, behavior, condition, and

education.

3 METHODOLOGY

The selection of research sites refers to the basic

principles of environmental and tourism destination

concepts that one of the most important things in the

concept is that development in the tourism sector in

a region does not bring adverse impacts and can

unite with the environment (WCAD), and also meet

the needs of tourism and a tourist destination in an

effort to save and give an opportunity to become

more interesting in the future (Yoeti,1991).

Therefore, the selected area is Sianjur Mula-Mula

Village, need to be developed because most of the

tourists come to Samosir, but not taking time more

to the Village of Sianjur Mula-Mula, in addition to it

because of many attractions which are natural

attractions, artificial, interesting traditional culture

and environment and amazing attraction become the

potential to be the main tourist destination in

Samosir

Figure 1: Maps of Subdistrict Samosir

The type of research in this research is descriptive

mix method which aimed to describe the elements of

tourism attraction with the environment on

development in Sianjur Mula village with

qualitatively and quantitatively (Teddlie, 2007).

Qualitative approach is done by using the method of

interviewing the local residents, tourists, as well as

government agencies that arrange tourist attractions,

Sianjur Mula-

Mula Village

Study on Attraction Elements based on Environment at the Village of Sianjur Mula-Mula

319

as well as direct observations in order to get more

accurate information. While the quantitative

approach is done by spreading questionnaires as

much as 100 questionnaires to tourists and residents

found in tourist destinations. Variables in this study

using two theories which are the theory of the

environment and the theory of the tourist attraction

that will be a reference for the development.

Elements of both theories will then be crossed to get

the limits of research indicators.

Elements used for this research are tourist

attractions that will discuss the natural attractions,

culture attraction and artificially attraction crossing

with elements of the environment consisting of

activities, behavior, conditions, and education. Data

analysis is done by combining and viewing elements

of attraction, whether it is cultural, artificial, and

natural, in the environment by way of observation,

interview and also questionnaire.

Table 1: Elements and Indicators

4 ANALYSIS AND

INTERPRETATION

Out of 100 questionnaires distributed, most of the

respondents were men (55%), and the rest were

female (45%). Meanwhile, the age of the

respondents most ranges between 18–25 years old

(47%), followed by 29% of 26-40 years old, 19% of

41-55 years old, and 5% of > 55 years old.

4.1 Attraction Activities

Table 2: Attractions as activity

Indicators L T Avera

Nature attractions already

reach satisfaction

2.70 3.70 3.20

Cultural attractions

already reach satisfaction

3.30 2.95 3.12

The artificial attraction

alread

reach satisfaction

3.15 3.42 3.28

The natural panorama is

ver

beautiful and uni

3.98 4.73 4.35

Notes :

L=Locals

T+Tourist

The available natural attractions are in the form

of large and beautiful landscape scenery and

Hadabuan Nai Sogop’s waterfall which is a natural

waterfall (Figure 2). The local people assess those

natural attractions are less satisfactory (2.70) but not

for tourists who enjoy it very much (3.70) seen from

the trend of tourist’s visit which tends to increase

from year to year (table 3). "The attraction here is

so-so, for us, it is not that interesting anymore

because it is boring" (Village community)

The public should be able to set a good example

and become a promoter when tourists come.

Stakeholders in tourism as government which

become a facilitator and regulator, private companies

as industry provider or developer and also as the

investor and of course the society as host and

perpetrator or implementer of tourism (Dani,

Sunaryo,2014). So that there should be community

training about the existing tourism in their

environment always to praise and boast what the

community's assets

Table 3: Tourist visit

Years Tourist

2015 0

2016 2385

2017 2815

Source: Tourism Office, Samosir

Cultural attractions, there is no element of cultural

dance or welcoming when tourists come. From the

results shows that tourists are less aware of cultural

attractions (2.95). But according to the public, some

of the official tourists greeted with cultural customs

and dances. This fit (James J. Spillane's, 1994)

statement that one of the attractions that can affect

the attraction is the ethnicity and culture such as

dance, welcoming attraction, greeting, etc (Figure

2). Cultural attractions in the form of welcoming

Environment Indicato

Activity

 Natural Attraction existing

 Cultural Attraction existing

 Artificial Attraction existing

Behavior

 Tour guide at the tourist site

 Participation of the

surrounding communit

Condition

 Cleanness in the destination

 Signage to every attraction

 Si

e to villa

Education

 Natural attraction education

 Education on the importance of

maintaining this area

 Cultural Attraction(The lives of

local people)

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320

dance have been shown when MNC tv came to do

coverage "(Main Source: Mr. Paul Diner Sagala).

Cultural attractions should be the main part of this

village because of the many cultures contained

within the village of Sianjur Mula-Nula as proposed

by Nafila, that cultural attraction is one of the types

of tourism that makes culture a major attraction.

Cultural events should be given a specific schedule

so that tourists can come and attend events in time

so that cultural attractions can be enjoyed by tourists

(Nafila, 2013).

The most popular artificial attraction is the Batak

Raja's house, followed by the Sianjur Mula-Mulula's

tree and Bintatar's water. The existence of artificial

attraction which is also part of the culture

(Marion,2008) is considered as a satisfactory for the

respondent (3.82)."The House of the Batak King was

established in 2014 by the people, and this is where

the birth of the first Batak king according to the

ancestors" (Source: Opung Parnaek, village

community leaders). Artificial attractions are made

by the people themselves. Development planning

without regard local people participation will be

count as planning on paper (Adi,2001). Therefore, a

participation of the local people will help the

establishment of this artificial tourism attraction

(Figure 2).

Figure 2: Sianjur Mula-Mula Attractions

4.2 Behavior of Attraction

Table 4 : Attractions as Behavior

Indicators L T Avera

There is a tour guide at the

tourist site

3.13 3.60 3.36

There are a participation of

the surroundin

communit

4.60 3.73 4.16

Tourists are welcome

4.65 4.13 4.39

Tour guides at this location are not recorded, but all

are people who come down as well as a tour guide in

the village. For natural attractions, after paying

entrance fees, the tourists will walk alone down the

river or trails that exist in the waterfall Hadabuan

Nai Sogop. For artificial attractions and cultural

attractions, the local people went down as tour

guides (3.36). The presence of tour guides at tourist

sites is important. Tour guides are the first person

the tourists talk to and we often see tour guides as

representatives of a place (Cole,2008). The

participation of the local people gives respondents a

very positive score (table 4). This is the evidence

from a very friendly society. The local people are

very willing to help tourists and warmly welcome

the tourists who come. From the value of the

respondents, it is seen that the welcoming tourists

are welcomed and friendly (4.39), and this can be

high selling power to tourists as revealed, that

welcoming is also part of community service and

service is a commodity that can be sell to tourists

(Hermawan,2013)

4.3 Conditions of Attraction

Table 5: Attraction as Conditions

Indicators L T Average

The condition of the

natural attractions is

goo

4.18 3.50 3.84

Cultural attractions

have to reach

satisfaction

3.32 3.40 3.36

Artificial attraction

condition is goo

3.51 3.16 3.33

I am satisfied with the

existin

environment

2.78 4.30 3.54

The village of Sianjur

initially has a

distinctive

architectural buildin

3.68 4.93 4.30

The condition of natural attractions is good.

Respondents give a positive response (table 5). The

condition of natural attractions in Hadabuan Nai

Sogop is still in good condition because it is still

beautiful and natural. Natural attractions such as

paddy fields are also very beautiful and comfortable

so that tourists can enjoy it very well.

"I am very happy with this place because the scenery

is very beautiful and the water is also clear"

(Source: Ms. Amelia, local tourists)

For the access to natural attractions of waterfall

Hadabuan Nai Sogop, paths and sidewalks to the

waterfall area were built well. However, the road for

Study on Attraction Elements based on Environment at the Village of Sianjur Mula-Mula

321

vehicles are not fully built. The road for vehicles can

only be passed by one vehicle which the road is very

rocky and only 4 meters width. So the condition of

attraction access is still not good (Figure 4) which

good accessibility should determine whether easy or

not to reach the location (Sumarabawa, 2013).

Satisfaction of tourist won’t improve if the

accessibilities still in not good condition (Allegre,

2010)

"There will be a special road to go up and down for

the vehicle, but still being planned by the

government" (Postal guard of Waterfall Hadabuan

Nai Sogop).

The effort to open the road already exists and will be

done by the government. If road construction is

done, then it will make a tourist trip easier and also

increase public enthusiasm to come to this natural

attractions.

Figure 3: Visitors to Attraction

Figure 4: Conditions to natural attractions

The condition of artificial attraction has been

satisfactory, (3.33). Artificial attraction is the House

of the Raja Batak and Sianjur Tree. 2 places are very

clean and tidy, but those need clearer marker signage

of the object so that tourists can know better what

artificial attraction are exist in the area.

Unfortunately, the signage is getting outdated and

there is no renew from the local government (Figure

5). It is not suitable by the statement (Sumbo

Tinarbuko,2008) stating that the signage should be a

product that is easy to see, easy to read, easy to

understand and trustworthy so that signage needs to

be improved at every attraction in the village of

Sianjur Mula-Mula.

Environmental satisfaction assessed by

respondents with the positive average (3.54). Tend,

tourists from outside Samosir give more value

(4.30). It is very significant because tourists highly

praise the beauty of this village, a very wide and

green landscape mix by mountains into a very

beautiful object when entering to the village of

Sianjur Mula-Mula. Typical architecture in the

village of Sianjur Mula-Mula is also still good.

Respondents gave a very positive score (4.30)

because of the presence of traditional houses which

still inhabited and treated primarily in Dusun 3 Huta

Balian. (Figure 6)

"Here there are three hamlets, namely Huta Balian,

Huta Lobu and Huta Sibatu-batu. These three

hamlets have typical buildings of Batak architecture

"(Main source: Mr. Paul Diner Sagala).

Place identity is very effective in making a success

tourist destination and can be an attraction and form

a satisfaction towards tourists (Ginting,2017). This

shows the existence of a culture of a society that

produces an identity of a place (Chi,2008).

Therefore, cultural architecture should not be

eliminated and must always be maintained to make a

strong identity in the village of Sianjur Mula-Mula.

Figure 5: Signage at current attraction

Figure 6: Traditional Houses

4.4 Educational Attractions

Respondents rated average 2.63 for education on

natural attractions education (Table 6). It can be said

that the average respondent thinks the natural

education element is less satisfactory. No education

was provided to travelers regarding nature in the

study area. According to the sources, the history and

process of the formation of the study area can be one

of the attractiveness if the place is developed well.

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322

Table 6: Attractions as Education

Indicators L T Avera

Education about natural

attractions in this place is

satisfactor

2,76 2.50 2.63

Education on the

importance of

maintaining this area is

available

3,12 3,25 3,18

Cultural Attraction(The

lives of local people) in

this place can be well

studied

2.96 2.80 2.88

"The process of forming this place should be more

exposed so that tourists can enjoy the history of this

place as well, not just the beauty of nature." (Main

source: Mr. Gagarin Sembiring, member of the

expert group of Toba Caldera).

The main thing that existed in the village of Sianjur

Mula-Mula was a culture which good to be more

exposed regarding history and culture. Educating the

importance of maintaining the place, the average

respondent assumed that education on the

importance of maintaining the study area was lack of

education(2.63) (Table 6). There is no education

available to maintain the study area. This can be

worse if there is no education either from the public

or the government to always keep the place.

"Indeed, there are no facilities provided to teach

visitors to keep and maintain this area. Need a

meeting point or a gathering point when tourists

come" (Source: Mr. Hendra Sagala, Village Device).

Need education such as educational signage or

awareness of the community itself to always

maintain the existing area. The education of cultural

attractions such as the life of local people shows that

the average respondent considers that education

about local people's in this place lacks (2.88) (table

6). According to the study, there is no facility that

can provide this education. Education on rice-field

activities or farming is still difficult to obtain. It is

also stated by the resource.

"Education about the lifestyle of the community here

is still difficult to obtain. There should be an effort to

develop this element "(main source: Mr. Irwansyah

Harahap, cultural practitioner).

The attractions should be equipped with the

education. But it is not often done by people in the

village of Sianjur Mula-Mula.

"There have been two times foreign tourists come

and try to learn to plant rice" (Main Source: Mr.

Paul Diner Sagala).

The existence of educational to cultural attraction

will become a new attraction in the village of Sianjur

Mula-Mula.

5 CONCLUSION

Based on the analysis results of the attraction study,

it was found that the activities and behavior of the

community have shown positive things such as the

existence of natural attractions, culture and artificial

in this tour, but there are still shortages in the

condition and education elements of the existing

attractions. The conditions of the attraction must be

renewed and maintained. It is important to improve

the environmental conditions in every attraction,

especially for the natural attractions which is the

Hadabuan Nai Sogop waterfall to open the access

points so that the attraction area will interest tourists

as revealed that the development of tourism is an

effort to develop and utilize tourist attraction

(Muljadi, 2009).

The existence of education to every tourist

makes the tourists feel welcomed so that tourists feel

guided when it comes to the village of Sianjur Mula-

Mula. Besides of that, education in attractions can

also be signage of explanation from each attraction

so that the attraction can be understood by every

tourist who comes and visit. Community life such as

farming, planting rice, studying the history and

origin of Sianjur Mula-First, further explanations

about every attraction in the history board that exists

so that aspects of tourist attractions can be fulfilled

and make tourist destinations in the region of Sianjur

Mula-Mula increasing. The development of

environment-based attractions is to improve the

existing environment around the attractions and

maintain local life by maximizing the contribution of

tourism to the prosperity of destinations and

communities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher would like to thank Mrs. Hilma

Tamiami Fachrudin, Mrs. Putri Pandasari, and Mrs.

Wahyuni Zahrah for their contributions on finishing

the research, all students of Department of

Study on Attraction Elements based on Environment at the Village of Sianjur Mula-Mula

323

Architecture, and also Sustainable Tourism Group of

Universitas Sumatera Utara for their support.

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