The Crucial Role of Customary Elders in Developing Tourism in Lumban Suhi Suhi Toruan
Lumban Suhi Suhi Toruan is no stranger to tourism, hosting the Hutaraja weaving center and a plethora of occasional and annual cultural events. But tourism has remained stagnant and the village has failed to bloom into the prime bustling tourist destination it aspired to.
Nestled in the scenic embrace of Samosir Island, within the vast expanse of Lake Toba, lies the picturesque village of Lumban Suhi-Suhi Toruan. With its rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking natural beauty, it is a hidden gem poised for tourism success. However, the village's full potential remains untapped due to internal challenges.
A key obstacle is the lack of alignment between the village’ young administrative leadership and the customary elders in a society where social hierarchy remains deep rooted. While the former has initiated promising tourism projects, the latter's support and involvement are crucial for long-term success.
The revamped version of Hutaraja, the hamlet long knowns as a weaving center of Ulos, the traditional woven cloth of the Batak ethnic group in Indonesia’s North Sumatra, was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on February 2, 2022 as one of island’s prime cultural tourism destinations.
Besides giving a new breath of life to the row of its high-roofed traditional houses, Hutaraja also saw its central open space facing the habitations, called the alaman, turned from a muddy patch in the rainy season and dusty one during the dry season, into a grand paved plaza. Village women, for most of whom weaving is their primary source of livelihood, work on their backstrap loom in front of their house.
A modern gallery presenting the best of local weavings and crafts, a modern lakeside café and clean public toilets completed he rehabilitation while the rows of local traditional houses around It were refurbished and turned into neat homestays to accommodate visitors.
Under the initiative and leadership of its young village head who sparked all these development, Lumban Suhi-Suhi Toruan also began to hold cultural events to draw more tourists.
But two years later, Lumban Suhi-Suhi Toruan failed to take off and became a world- tourist destination, or even a national one. Tourism development simply stalled.
Tourism, experience has shown everywhere, should be everyone’s business. Unfortunately, for Lumban Suhi-Suhi Toruan, the local customary leadership do not see eye to eye with the administrative leadership, including in developing tourism.
The Batak people of North Sumatra, have a strong and complex social hierarchy that has historically played a significant role in their society. This hierarchy is primarily based on kinship and descent, with certain lineages and clans holding higher status than others.
Customary elders, a term not necessarily related to age, are seen as the guardians of the village's cultural heritage. They hold the keys to the traditional customs, rituals, and practices that have been passed down through generations. Disobedience carries social
