Optimization Mursala Waterfall in Improving Community Potency, Welfare through Local Wisdom in Central Tapanuli Regency

The tourism sector in each country, if it is developed properly, will improve the economy of a country. In Indonesia there is a good number of tourism which can be developed by the local government. Unfortunately, however, not all tourism sectors get the local governments decently sufficient attention. The thing is the same with Mursala waterfall in Tapanuli Tengah regency, it is still deprived of the local governments attention. Mursala waterfall is a unique one because the water directly falls into the sea and it is located between Sibolga and Nias. Special attention is required by the Local Government in developing this tourism by involving local communities and local wisdom to create local community empowerment. In this study the author uses a qualitative approach with descriptive research type of data collection by way of observation, interview, and bibliography study. The result of the study clearly indicates that the tourism sector if it is optimized involving various community-based tourism programs may potentially empower the community through local wisdom and create community development around the Mursala waterfall.