Development Priority Policies for Impact Control and the Recovery of Natural Tourism in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia

Muhammad Arifin Nasution (), Agus Purwoko, Wanda Kuswanda, Nurdin Sulistiyono, Muhammad Fuad Abdullah, Seca Gandaseca, Badli Esham Ahmad, Yarina Ahmad, Reny Khaerany Nisfiary, Rizkia Amalia Adinda and Ulil Amri Daulay
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Muhammad Arifin Nasution: Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Padang Bulan, Medan Baru, Medan 20155, Indonesia
Agus Purwoko: Forestry Study Program, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, Indonesia
Wanda Kuswanda: Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor 16911, Indonesia
Nurdin Sulistiyono: Forestry Study Program, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, Indonesia
Muhammad Fuad Abdullah: Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam 42300, Malaysia
Seca Gandaseca: Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Malaysia
Badli Esham Ahmad: Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Malaysia
Yarina Ahmad: Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Malaysia
Reny Khaerany Nisfiary: Psikologi Study Program, Faculty of Business and Humanities, Universitas Tjut Nyak Dhien, Medan 20132, Indonesia
Rizkia Amalia Adinda: Forestry Study Program, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, Indonesia
Ulil Amri Daulay: Forestry Study Program, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-23

Abstract: North Sumatra has abundant natural resources and potential as a tourist destination for the wider community. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted natural tourism, including in North Sumatra, where several tourist attractions have closed their businesses. This study aims to formulate policy priorities for the impact control and restoration of natural tourism sites in North Sumatra. We analyzed the decline in visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the pandemic on the number of visitors, the types of tourist attraction facilities that suffered the most damage, the influence of facility type on the decline in tourist visits, and the aspects of tourism that decreased the most and should be prioritized for improvement. A descriptive statistical analysis, difference tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were used. We found factors that influenced visitor changes before and during the pandemic, as well as afterwards. Our results show that an important development priority is to control the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the decline in tourist attractions. We also propose important recommendations for priority policies aimed at the restoration of facilities in the post-COVID-19 development of natural tourism in North Sumatra.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; tourist attraction facilities; visitor characteristics; visitors decline; nature tourism; recovery priorities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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