Phenomenological Approach from The Village Head’s Holistic Leadership in Development Efforts Lake Toba National Tourism Strategic Area

Objective: The research aims to determine the leadership style found in villages in the Lake Toba area which have natural, biological and cultural potential, where presumably, the head of the village head will be able to make breakthroughs in developing the village into a tourist village. The tourism development target for Lake Toba is 1,000,000 foreign tourist visits in 2019, and the damage to tourism infrastructure due to the 2020-2022 pandemic out-break makes this target even more difficult to achieve. Theoretical framework: Qualitative research conducted using the phenomenological approach. Research validity was obtained through triangulation of data sources and reliability was carried out through repeated observations a year later. Method: Of the 30 villages located on the shores of the lake, 15 villages were selected for observation and interviews, afterward reduced to 10 villages using feature and demographic approaches. This research is increasingly necessary considering that the world tourism trend is towards the environment, and the development of villages into tourist area can be achieved if the village head's leadership style is appropriate. Result and conclusion: The research proves the similarity of village heads' experiences in leading villages, integratedly, in a bureaucratic, democratic and transformative manner, where these actions can create change and increase the welfare of village residents. The village head who supports the development of National Tourism Strategy Area of Lake Toba leads holistically. Research implications: The research provides the government with a standard leadership model that the village head can use to oversee the hamlet's transition into a tourism destination and obtain accreditation. Originality/value: The research found a leadership model, namely leadership based on statutory regulations, local wisdom and transformation, which was classified then as bureaucratic, democratic and transformative leadership models.