Model Peran Pemerintah terhadap Pengembangan Wilayah Provinsi Sumatera Utara melalui Pembangunan Klaster Agrowisata Terpadu

Abstract

Regional planning should be focused on economic and participative development planning, as well as integrated collaboration between the government and private companies through public private partnership in supporting development program through community development and participatory planning so that the indicators of success can be valued from the economic, social, cultural, and political aspects which influence the activities of development and regional development. Regional development is the integral part of regional planning which is not only related to spatial planning but also related to regional potential which can be utilized optimally by stakeholders for increasing people’s social and economic welfare. The focus of the research is on 3 (three) areas in North Sumatera Province: East Coast Area consists of 7 districts/towns (Medan, Deli Serdang Regency, Serdang Bedagai Regency, Tebing Tinggi, Batubara Regency, Asahan Regency, and Labuhanbatu Regency). They have their strength in synergistic correlation with toll road access, airport, seaport, agricultural sector and tourist objects, and trade and service potencies. Upland Area consists of 7 districts/towns (Karo Regency, Pematang Siantar, Simalungun Regency, Samosir Regency, Toba Regency, Tapanuli Utara Regency, and Humbang Hasundutan Regency). They have their strength in synergistic correlation with provincial and national roads which connect them with airport, seaport, agricultural and tourism sectors, and trade and service sectors. West Coast Area consists of 4 districts/towns (Sibolga, Tapanuli Tengah Regency, Padang Sidimpuan, and Mandailing Natal Regency. They have their strength in synergistic correlation with provincial and national roads, airport, seaport, agricultural and tourism sectors, and trade and service sectors. The background of selecting the research locations in the 18 districts/towns which consist of east coast areas, 7 upland areas, and 4 west coast areas is that the regional development of North Sumatera Province will have significant influence through integrated agro-tourism cluster because of the support and the role of government, local wisdom/natural potency, and national strategic program such as airport, seaport, and toll roads which are gradually constructed: Medan-Tebing Tinggi, Parapat-Sibolga so that the development of east coast area, upland area, and west coast area so that their regional development in the 18 districts/towns can be realized. The integrated and connected development is expected to provide multiplier effect for regional hinterland development of districts/towns. This can accelerate the process of regional development which can have significant development of North Sumatera Province. It is supported by the government’s role in infrastructure development, people empowerment, and the government policy. It is also supported by the realization of regional development based on the support of economic, social, and cultural aspects indirectly through the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster. It can be related to the role of the government to regional development of North Sumatera Province through the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster which is supported by the increase in competitiveness, income per capita, and investment. The objective of this research is to 1) analyze the influence of the government’s role in regional development in North Sumatera Province, 2) analyze the influence of government’s role in the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster, 3) analyze the influence of the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster on regional development in North Sumatera Province, and 4) analyze the influence of government’s role in regional development in North Sumatera Province through integrated agro-tourism cluster. The research employs mixed methods (quantitative method and qualitative method (informants). The result of the research shows that 1) 36.4% of the government’s role is explained by the variables of government’s role (development, people empowerment, and government’s policy) which have positive influence simultaneously and partially. They also have significant effect on the regional development in North Sumatera Province, 2) 19.4% of the government’s role is explained by the variables of government’s role (development, people empowerment, and government policy) which have positive influence simultaneously and partially, and have significant effect on the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster in North Sumatera Province, 3) 23.2% of the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster in regional development have positive influence simultaneously and partially and have significant effect on the regional development in North Sumatera Province, 4) 40.8% of the government’s role in regional development can be explained by the variables of the government’s role (development, people empowerment, and government policy) and the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster (competitiveness, income percapita, and investment) which have positive influence and have significant effect on regional development in North Sumatera Province through the development of integrated agro-tourism cluster, and 5) the previous researchers do not use the influence of independent variable (government’s role) on dependent variable (regional development) through integrated agro-tourism cluster (intervening) implemented in 18 districts/towns which are searched simultaneously in North Sumatera Province and in other areas. In this research, the recommendation for districts/towns in North Sumatera Province for three areas which could be used as integrated agro-tourism clusters is as follows 1) East Coast Area which can be relied on to become the center of an Integrated Agro-tourism Cluster is Medan because it is the capital of North Sumatera Province and the culinary place. Besides that, it has quick access since it has toll roads. It is also found that Medan is an interesting investment area and the economic center in North Sumatera Province and as the center of Administration and economy of North Sumatera Province, 2) Upland Area can be relied on as the center of integrated agro-tourism are of Tapanuli Utara Regency because it has agro-tourism object such as Lake Toba which is surrounded by 7 districts: Simalungun Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Toba Regency, Karo Regency, Dairi Regency, Samosir Regency, and Tapanuli Utara Regency. The construction of Silangit Airport will make easier for tourists to visit the tourist objects in Tapanuli Utara because they can travel in shorter time to the tourist objects. Tapanuli Utara Regency also has a lot of social, cultural, and economic potentials. It also has natural and historical objects which can be dug out and preserved to one of its assets in supporting its development in the tourism sector when they can be packed to become tourist objects which have attractiveness and uniqueness for attracting the interest of domestic and foreign tourists. The important thing is that there are participation and tourist awareness from local people, government, and businesss people in order to support local tourism. Natural potential which can be developed as tourist objects in Tapanuli Utara Regency Air Panas Sipoholon in Sipohon Sub-district, Pacuan Kuda Siborong-borong in Siborong-borong Sub-district, Air Panas in Hutabarat, Air Panas Saitnihuta, Air Panas Ugan, and Air Soda Parbubu in Huta Parbubu, Tarutung Sub-district. Besides in Parbubu, natural tourist object of Air Soda is only found in Venezuela. Tapanuli Regency also has other natural resources in tourism such as spiritual tourism and cultural/historical tourism. 3) West Coast Area can be expected to be the center of an integrated agro-tourism area in Mandailing Natal (Madina) Regency, This regency is more appropriate to be the concept of economic sector through the supply-chain development in which Mandailing Natal Regency is passed by western Sumatera cross road which will automatically support the acceleration of distributing the products from Mandailing Natal Regency to the sea.