This research explores destination competitiveness in the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province of Indonesia. Absence of empirical studies related to destination efficiency in Indonesia, and the significant uprise of the tourism sector in NTT, justify the study. We employed a Malmquist–data envelopment analysis (DEA) to assess performances of regions in NTT. Results presented technical efficiency and efficiency change indexes, and further provisions regarding managerial implications. Regional tourism stakeholders therefore should adhere to the new scenario, which may entail radical rethinking regarding their traditional ways of defining, structuring, and distributing tourism products.

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.

The selection of tourist attractions is a multi-criteria decision making problem, which requires time and careful consideration to make the right decision. The proper destination selection based on human needs in a particular moment affects satisfaction in traveling. This research aims to create a decision support system for selecting tourist attractions (a case study in Kupang City) using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method. Users can input the priority scale of 9 human need attributes and then be directed to the system’s recommendations of tourist attractions. This paper also compares fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method with the original analytic hierarchy process calculations. The result shows that both methods can be a solution for multi-criteria decision making, but the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method performs a more optimal solution for cases with uncertainty in comparisons between elements.

The COVID-19 pandemic is utterly reshaping the travelling industry. Accordingly, the tourism supply chain is presented with a tremendous challenge for adjusting towards new trends in travel, which stem from changes in tourist behaviours. This paper examines the contemporary millennial behavioural preferences within a tourism value chain perspective, a theme that is largely overlooked in literature. In carrying out the agenda, we employed a multi-attribute decision-making approach in PROMETHEE II, one which is new to the study of tourists’ behaviour. A sample of 316 Indonesian millennials who conducted domestic travel post–COVID-19 outbreak participated in the survey. Research results highlighted imagery user generated content (UGC), direct information from close relatives, accommodation services, self-catered experience and nature-based attractions to mostly resonate with the millennial traveller. In light of the results, we presented managerial implications that shed light for adjustments in the tourism value chain. This study contributes to extend the knowledge of millennials travelling behaviour from an alternative standpoint.

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.