AN ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEEDS FOR TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS IN PAGAR ALAM CITY TO SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31851/g702xa34Keywords:
English for Tourism; Needs Analysis; Tourism Stakeholders; English for Specific Purposes; Pagar Alam CityAbstract
This study aimed to analyze the English language needs of tourism stakeholders in Pagar Alam City to support services for international tourists. A descriptive mixed-methods design was employed by integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to 100 tourism stakeholders and semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively selected participants representing various tourism sectors. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that English was the most preferred foreign language (85%) among tourism stakeholders. Speaking and listening were identified as the highest-priority language skills, whereas speaking fluency, limited vocabulary, and listening comprehension were the major communication challenges. Respondents also emphasized the importance of English communication functions such as greeting tourists, explaining tourist attractions, giving directions, and handling customer inquiries. Furthermore, English for Tour Guiding, Hospitality English, and Tourist Information Services were identified as the most preferred training topics. These findings indicate that tourism stakeholders require workplace-oriented English training emphasizing communicative competence, authentic tourism interactions, destination interpretation, and customer service. The study provides practical implications for developing English for Tourism curricula and training programs that enhance service quality and strengthen the competitiveness of Pagar Alam as an emerging tourism destination.
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