North Sumatra as a tourists’ destination has been renowned in international tourism market, especially in Europe. European tourists accounted for the biggest portion of foreign tourists in the province. However, some popular tourism sites in North Sumatra such as Lake Toba, Bukit Lawang and Brastagi continue to decline in the last few years, with the number of visitors decreasing considerably from year to year.

On the one hand, North Sumatera that is rich in biodiversity and culture, possesses huge potentials to be developed as an ecotourism destination, as part of sustainable tourism development program within national context. On the other hand, some policies created to push ecotourism development have not been optimum with no strategy and integrated programs in place to coordinate efforts by provincial and district government. There are also problems in implementing these policies, such as weak coordination between sectors and between different level of government; lack of community participation in tourism development; low capacity of human resources in tourism sector and low tourism awareness in community; as well as much unofficial retribution that cause high cost economy and uncompetitive products.

As an effort to support ecotourism development in North Sumatera, participants of the regional ecotourism workshop: ”Developing Policies Conducive for North Sumatra Tourism Development and Promotion”, that was held on 17th to 20th of November 2005 at Sumatera Village Resort – Medan, declared:

1. All participants agreed to prioritize “ecotourism” as a concept of developing tourism in North Sumatera.
2. The development of ecotourism in North Sumatera is aimed at improving local economy in order to increase people’s welfare, increasing regional income and conserving nature and culture.
3. Ecotourism principles to be implemented are principles of environmentally sound procedures; community-based; and educational values for visitors, host community, and management.
4. Participants agreed to form Ecotourism Club, an independent organization that provide opportunity for networking, with members that include tourism practitioners (i.e. tour operators), provincial and district government, universities, and NGOs.
5. ”Ecotourism Club” would be a forum for exchanging information and ideas for product development and marketing. The forum would be active in giving input to local government so as to support the creation of policies conducive for ecotourism development in North Sumatera and would seek to foster relationships with national and international ecotourism organizations.
6. Participants agreed to combine synergic efforts to ensure that ecotourism products offered in each destination and region comply with principles of ecotourism.
7. Participants agreed to synergize in pushing for the development of North Sumatera ecotourism master plan that has to be done in participatory manner.
8. Participants agreed on North Sumatera branding image:”Tropical Adventure and Cultural Heritage”.
9. Urged the provincial and district government to put priority in human resources development in ecotourism sector.

People participating in the Declaration consisted of 30 individuals coming from government institutions, NGOs, and ecotourism operators.