Assessing Tourism Competitiveness in Pamekasan Regency: A Tourist Perspective

Abstract

Pamekasan district has several interesting tourist attractions, such as Jumiang Beach and Kehi Hill, but these spots have not yet become the main choice for tourists. The problem identified is the low competitiveness of these tourist spots compared to others in the region. The solution proposed involves analyzing tourism competitiveness in Pamekasan Regency from the perspective of tourists. The research contribution is to provide insights for improving tourism policies in Pamekasan. This research employs a quantitative descriptive method using purposive sampling techniques and the Slovin formula to obtain a sample of 80 tourists. Samples were drawn from frequent visitors to both Pamekasan and other areas. The method combines commonly used dimensions and indicators, including attractions, facilities, accessibility, infrastructure, and sacrifices (time, energy, and money), along with tourist satisfaction. The results reveal that satisfaction and preferences significantly influence tourist visits, supporting the findings of Miragaia, Conde, and Soares (2016). Pamekasan's tourist competitiveness is found to be lower than tourist attractions outside Madura but competitive within Madura. The study concludes that Pamekasan’s tourism competitiveness could improve with stronger governmental and community collaboration in managing tourism sites. This research contributes to policy development aimed at boosting tourism competitiveness in Pamekasan through multi-stakeholder collaboration..