Analysis of Factors Affecting International Tourists’ Length of Stay in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, Indonesia

In line with the increasing number of tourists in West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara
Barat/NTB), the province has to fulfill a growing demand for accommodations, including
hotel rooms and beds. The data showed that in 2017, the number of hotels in the province was
947 units, which consisted of 65 star-rated hotels and 882 non-star rated hotels. The number
of rooms available in that same year increased by 13,265 units to 4,118 rooms for star-rated
hotels and 9,147 rooms for non-star rated hotels. From January 2019 to November 2019,
the average length of stay (LOS/RLM) of tourists was 3.36 days. Average LOS is one factor
that influences the economy by encouraging sustainability, inclusivity, and economic growth
for the people of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Job opportunities in the tourism sector will
open and people will be able to gain decent jobs. This is one of the sustainable development
goals (SDGs) that will be achieved if more international or foreign tourists came and stayed
in the province for a long time. The samples in this study were 399 foreign tourists. Sample
selection was determined using cluster random sampling (CRS). Twenty-four variables were
used and analysed to produce the most dominant and influential factors on foreign tourists’
LOS. The analysis method used was the Cochran’s Q Test to determine the dominant factors.
The results showed that 15 of the 24 variables investigated dominantly influenced the LOS
of foreign tourists. The 15 variables were Personal motivation (X1
), Availability of tourism
objects and products (X2
), Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, relatives, and
colleagues (X5
), Political and security conditions in tourist destinations (X6
), Hygiene or
cleanliness and environmental conditions in tourist destinations (X7
), Weather and climate
(X9
), Attitudes, opinions, and perceptions of destination tourism (X10), Current knowledge
about travel destinations (X12), Hobbies and interests (X13), Personal health (X17), Income level (X18), Personality (X19), Transportation and road access (X20), Main and supporting facilities
(X21), and Events and entertainment in tourist destinations (X23). This research is expected
to be a reference for tourism stakeholders in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), in view of creating
marketing and promotional programmes for their tourist destinations based on factors that are
considered important or dominant by foreign tourists, and increasing tourists’ LOS.
Keywords: Cochran’s Q Test, dominant factors, length of stay, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)
province