This paper aims to explore a conceptual criteria framework for measuring tourism destination competitiveness at the regional level to fill the existing gap in literature. This study was conducted in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province of Indonesia, by developing a tailored set of criteria for measuring destination competitiveness specific for the regional backdrop through rigorous literature review and in-depth interviews with tourism experts. Moreover, a hybrid MCDM approach combining DEMATEL and Fuzzy TOPSIS techniques was employed to analyze interrelationships and importance rankings of the developed measurement criteria. This research developed a six-factor and twenty-three indicator framework deemed relevant for assessing destination competitiveness at the regional level. The six factors comprise of destination attraction, general infrastructure, superstructure, destination management, price competitiveness, and regional government policy. The DEMATEL analysis revealed regional government policy to be the most influential factor, whilst destination attraction was rendered the most important one. Results from the Fuzzy TOPSIS present the most important indicators from the framework as a natural attraction, accessibility and port infrastructure, accommodation, the image of the destination, and priority towards the tourism sector.  Findings from this research provide valuable insights in terms of proposing tourism policymakers with a blueprint of regional destination competitiveness criteria that offers critical inputs for developing medium and long-term tourism strategies.

This research aims to draw a blueprint of factors influencing tourist's choice of destination, and to identify tourism destination competitiveness in Kupang City of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province. Scarcity of empirical studies related to the topic and significant potential for tourism development in the context of NTT justifies a gap for the aforementioned agenda. In fulfilling the aim of study, we employed a quantitative method through an application of a hybrid multi criteria decision making (MCDM) method by combining the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Data were obtained by questionnaire spread upon visiting tourists. Results point that safety was the dominant factor influencing the destination choice of tourists, while self-esteem was found to be the least important factor. Importance of factor indicators showed that society friendliness, need for eating and drinking, a crime-free environment, and spending time with relatives or family were the 4 most important criteria. Further results regarding destination competitiveness identified Warna Oesapa Beach to be the most favorite destination, while Gua Monyet Tenau was the least favorable place. Findings of this research is contended to be beneficial in the context of understanding how do tourists perceive and prefer choosing tourism destinations offered in Kupang City. Accordingly, tourism stakeholders from the supply side are equipped with essential inputs for planning destination attributes worth developing and promoting, and specifically in regards to destination brand repositioning.

The current research focuses on the motivation and perception of tourists towards the three favorite tourist attractions in Kupang Regency, namely the tourist attractions of the Baumata Pond, Tablolong Beach and Mount Fatuleu. This study aims at determining the motivation of tourists visiting, especially to Baumata Pond, Tablolong Beach and Mount Fatuleu, as well as to identify tourists' perceptions of attractions, amenities, accessibility, and ancillary services. This type of research is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach. To support this research, primary data and secondary data were used, with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, questionnaires, documentation and literature study. The sampling technique used in this study was accidental sampling with a total sample size, (1) Baumata pond with 99 respondents, (2) Tablolong Beach with 99 respondents, (3) Mount Fatuleu with 99 respondents. The findings of this study show that the average tourist has a very high motivation, which includes physical or physiological motivation, cultural motivation, social or interpersonal motivation and fantasy motivation to travel to the three favorite tourist attractions of Kupang Regency. The average tourist also has a very good perception of the 4A components, which includes attractions, facilities, accessibility and ancillary services.

This research is entitled the application of speaking skills to local tour guides in the development of community-based tourism in Uitiuh Tuan village, South Semau District, Kupang Regency. The aims of this research are 1) To find out the extent of mastery of speaking skills by the local tour guides, 2) Which of the four indicators is the most difficult for local tour guides to implement? And 3) What are the obstacles faced by local tour guides related to the application of these speaking skills? The research method used in this research is descriptive qualitative with one of the data collection techniques is in-depth interview. The results of this study indicated that local tour guides in Uitiuh Tuan village are still not fully able to master speaking skills properly and correctly, especially for indicators of fluency.This was triggered because of the lack of vocabulary mastery by the tour guides; some even resorted to using the dictionary application on their cellphones when communicating with foreign guests/tourists. This is certainly very disturbing the comfort of tourists and even guests who complain about it. This lack of vocabulary mastery causes them to be less fluent in speaking. For example, when a guest asked about the object or culture of life of the local community, the tour guide was difficult to explain according to the guest/tourist question. In addition to the lack of vocabulary mastery, the use of grammar is also one of the obstacles. Even though guests/tourists may not think that grammar is important, some tour guides feel hesitant or lack confidence to speak in English because they afraid that the grammar is wrong or not quite right. In connection with the factors mentioned above, the head of the Pokdarwis plans to hold regular training related to English capacity, especially in the form of increasing speaking skills in accordance with the components of speaking skills by tour guides which will ultimately lead to improving tourism life and providing welfare for the community around the tourist objects so that community-based tourism is truly felt by the people in Uitiuh Tuan Village.

This This study aims to identify lontar leaves webbing products as a cultural attraction at the Sasando House and to analyze the role of lontar leaves webbing crafts into Sustainable Cultural Tourism at the Sasando House. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method. The informants were the Sasando House owner, webbing craftsmen, Head of Oebelo village, and visitors who were determined based on the purposive sampling technique. Data collection techniques were carried out by observation, in-depth interviews, literature study, documentation, and using triangulation. The results of this study show that some products of lontar leaves webbing that maintain the meaning and value of local culture as cultural attraction at the Sasando House are sasando, ti'i langga hat, and betel bucket. By applying the concept of sustainable tourism to the webbing of lontar leaves as a cultural attraction at Sasando House provides benefits. From economic dimension, it provides financial income so that it meets the necessities of owners and workers' life from an economic perspective at Sasando House. From social dimension, the lontar leaves webbing crafts preserve local culture and introducing it to the wider community. From environmental dimension, the lontar leaves webbing crafts are very environmentally friendly because it is made of natural materials. But there is the lack of attention to the maintenance of lontar trees.