Enhancing English Communication Competence for Tourism Professionals and Students in Banyuwangi: A Phenomenological Study

Authors

  • Putu Ngurah Rusmawan Banyuwangi State Polytechnic, Indonesia
  • Kanom Kanom Banyuwangi State Polytechnic, Indonesia
  • Tri Setianingsih Mandalika University of Education, Indonesia
  • Kamarudin Kamarudin University Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v13i3.15142

Keywords:

Communication competences, Tourism industry, Hospitality professionals

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the essential competencies of hospitality professional and the vocational students in communication skills needed to effectively interact with tourists from diverse cultural backgrounds and enhance their overall travel experience. This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach. The data was collected through in-depth interviews, with tourism student, professional industry worker, and practitioner tourism industry in Banyuwangi, participatory observations which conducted across tourist spots and documentation. A comprehensive analysis of relevant educational resources and industry-specific documents were employed in this study. Findings reveal a significant gap between theoretical instruction and practical application in English real tourism industry workforce setting, which affects confidence and communication skills among tourism workers. It emphasizes the necessity of collaborative frameworks between educational institutions and tourism enterprises to align training with dynamic industry demands. These findings provide valuable insights for curriculum improvement and training initiatives to enhance the global competitiveness of tourism professionals, especially in communication skills.

Author Biographies

Putu Ngurah Rusmawan, Banyuwangi State Polytechnic

Politeknik Negeri Banyuwangi, Jl. Raya Jember No. KM13, East Java, Indonesia

Kanom Kanom, Banyuwangi State Polytechnic

Politeknik Negeri Banyuwangi, Jl. Raya Jember No. KM13, East Java, Indonesia

Tri Setianingsih, Mandalika University of Education

English Language Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Indonesia

Kamarudin Kamarudin, University Malaysia Terengganu

English Lecturer, University Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia

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Published

2025-07-18

How to Cite

Rusmawan, P. N., Kanom, K., Setianingsih, T., & Kamarudin, K. (2025). Enhancing English Communication Competence for Tourism Professionals and Students in Banyuwangi: A Phenomenological Study. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 13(3), 1567–1577. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v13i3.15142

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