Medan, May 21, 2026 – The Diploma Program in Tour and Travel Operations, Faculty of Vocational Education, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), successfully conducted the Field Trip: North to West Sumatra Scenic & Heritage Tour as part of its implementation of experiential learning. The program was designed to provide students with hands-on learning experiences through the exploration of prominent tourist destinations and direct engagement with tourism industry professionals.
Throughout the field trip, students visited several destinations renowned for their natural, cultural, and historical significance, including Aek Sijornih in South Tapanuli Regency, the tourism area of Bukittinggi, and various leading attractions in Padang City. During these visits, students observed destination management practices, tourism service quality, visitor attractions, supporting facilities, and tourism development strategies implemented in each location.
At Aek Sijornih, students explored the potential of river- and waterfall-based nature tourism, one of North Sumatra's distinctive attractions. In addition to enjoying the natural scenery, they examined destination management practices, available facilities, and the role of local communities in supporting tourism activities.
The journey continued to Bukittinggi, one of West Sumatra's premier tourist destinations, renowned for its rich historical and cultural heritage. Students visited the city's iconic attractions and studied how historical landmarks, Minangkabau culture, and natural landscapes have been developed into tourism products that attract both domestic and international visitors. This experience provided valuable insights into cultural interpretation, heritage preservation, and strategies for managing cultural tourism destinations.
The next stage of the trip took place in Padang City, where students explored a variety of tourist attractions while observing the development of the tourism, hospitality, and travel service industries. These experiences enabled students to understand the interconnections between tourism destinations, supporting industries, and the roles of various stakeholders in creating high-quality visitor experiences.
To further strengthen students' academic competencies, the program also featured a Tourism Talk Show that brought together students and tourism industry practitioners.
The first speaker, Regi Fernando, Executive of Sales and Marketing at Hotel Rangkayo Group, discussed hotel marketing strategies, the importance of service excellence, brand development, and the hospitality industry's adaptation to evolving market trends. He also shared insights into the professional competencies required to succeed in the hospitality sector.
The second session was delivered by Ian Hanafiah, Founder of Ero Tour Padang and Vice Chairman for Promotion and International Relations of the Central Executive Board of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA). He discussed the development of the travel agency industry, business opportunities within the tourism sector, the importance of tourism product innovation, and destination promotion strategies through collaboration among government institutions, tourism businesses, and industry associations. He also encouraged students to become creative, adaptable tourism professionals with a global perspective to meet future industry challenges.
The discussion session was highly interactive, allowing students to ask questions about career opportunities, industry challenges, entrepreneurship, and strategies for building successful businesses in the travel and hospitality sectors. This session complemented classroom learning by providing practical insights directly from industry professionals.
As a gesture of appreciation for the speakers' contributions, the program concluded with the presentation of commemorative tokens by Dr. Solahuddin Nasution, Vice Dean for Education, Student Affairs, and Alumni of the Faculty of Vocational Education. The presentation symbolized the faculty's appreciation while reinforcing collaboration between academia and the tourism industry.
Through the Field Trip: North to West Sumatra Scenic & Heritage Tour, students gained not only firsthand experience visiting diverse tourism destinations but also valuable insights into destination management, tourism marketing, hospitality operations, and the dynamics of the travel business. These experiences are expected to strengthen students' competencies in analyzing destination potential, designing tour packages, delivering quality visitor services, and developing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the tourism industry.
The Diploma Program in Tour and Travel Operations remains committed to providing practical, industry-oriented learning experiences aligned with developments in the tourism sector. Through experiential programs such as this field trip, students are prepared to become professional, adaptable graduates equipped with the competencies required to excel in the rapidly evolving tourism industry.