Lake Lut Tawar is one of Aceh's most popular natural attractions, known for its scenic mountain landscape, cool climate, Gayo culture, and internationally recognized Gayo Arabica coffee. Tourist destinations surrounding the lake including Pante Menye Beach, Bur Telege, Pantan Terong, Mendale Beach, and several historical caves continue to attract domestic and international visitors. Despite this growing tourism potential, transportation services remain heavily dependent on private vehicles, creating congestion during weekends and holiday seasons.
According to the researchers, the lack of a dedicated tourist transportation system has become a significant obstacle to sustainable tourism development. Roads around Lake Lut Tawar frequently experience traffic congestion caused by roadside parking and increasing numbers of private vehicles. These conditions reduce travel comfort, increase vehicle operating costs, extend travel times, and contribute to higher emissions in an environmentally sensitive area.
The study argues that tourism development and transportation planning should be treated as interconnected systems. Attractive destinations alone are insufficient if visitors cannot travel safely, efficiently, and comfortably. Well-designed public transportation can improve accessibility while supporting environmental conservation and local economic growth.
To identify the most effective transportation strategy, the research team combined field surveys with transportation network modeling. Tourist travel patterns were collected through questionnaires distributed to visitors, while road network information was analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the transportation planning software PTV Visum. Rather than relying on theoretical assumptions, the researchers evaluated actual travel demand and simulated alternative transport routes to determine which network would serve the greatest number of passengers efficiently.
The analysis produced two potential tourist transportation routes connecting Paya Ilang Type A Terminal with Pante Menye on Lake Lut Tawar. One route passes through Kebayakan, while the second follows the Lut Tawar corridor. After evaluating passenger demand and network loading, the Kebayakan route clearly outperformed the alternative because it attracted significantly higher projected passenger volumes.
The recommended tourist transportation route extends approximately 23 kilometers, beginning at Paya Ilang Terminal and continuing through Jalan Pengulu Gayo, Jalan Lebe Kader, Jalan Abdul Wahab, and Jalan Simpang Kebayakan–Bintang before reaching Pante Menye. The terminal was selected as the starting point because it already functions as a transportation hub for regional bus services and provides adequate parking and passenger transfer facilities.
The researchers also recommend operating 14-seat small buses rather than larger vehicles. Smaller buses are considered more suitable for the winding roads and mountainous terrain surrounding Lake Lut Tawar, allowing safer operation while maintaining passenger comfort. This recommendation also aligns with existing road dimensions and infrastructure capacity in Central Aceh.
The proposed operational plan includes:
- Operating hours from 07:00 to 17:00 WIB every day.
- An average operating speed of 40 kilometers per hour.
- A travel time of approximately 35 minutes for one trip.
- Four buses operating simultaneously.
- A departure interval of approximately 18 minutes between vehicles.
Beyond route planning, the study evaluated vehicle operating costs to determine an economically sustainable passenger fare. Using Indonesia's public transportation cost guidelines, the researchers estimated vehicle operating costs at approximately IDR 8,855 per kilometer. Assuming a passenger occupancy rate of 70 percent and a reasonable operator profit margin, the recommended fare is approximately IDR 11,500 per passenger for a one-way trip.
The findings suggest that a dedicated tourist transportation system could generate benefits extending far beyond improved mobility. Reduced dependence on private vehicles would help decrease traffic congestion, lower fuel consumption, reduce air pollution, and improve road safety around one of Aceh's most valuable tourism destinations. Better accessibility could also encourage visitors to explore multiple attractions around the lake, increasing spending on accommodation, restaurants, local transportation, handicrafts, and other community-based tourism businesses.
The researchers further emphasize that tourist transportation should be integrated with existing regional transportation infrastructure, particularly Paya Ilang Terminal and Rembele Airport. Such integration would enable smoother transfers between intercity travel and local tourist transportation, creating a more seamless travel experience for domestic and international visitors.
As explained by Mareza Bagus Candra Pradana and colleagues from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, sustainable tourism depends not only on attractive destinations but also on transportation systems that are efficient, safe, environmentally responsible, and capable of meeting visitor demand. Their findings indicate that transportation planning should become an essential component of regional tourism development strategies rather than an afterthought.
The recommendations also provide a practical reference for policymakers in Central Aceh Regency. Implementing dedicated tourist transportation could strengthen regional tourism competitiveness while supporting Indonesia's broader goals of sustainable mobility and environmentally responsible destination management.
Author Profiles
Mareza Bagus Candra Pradana - Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya
Dr. Hanie Teki Tjendani - Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya
Prof. Bambang Trigunarsyah - Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya
Source
Article Title: Tourist Transportation Strategy for Pante Lake Lut Tawar in Central Aceh Region
Journal: Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST), Vol. 5, No. 6
Publication Year: 2026
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