Empowering Rural Tourism Human Resources: Enhancing Hospitality and Public Speaking Skills for Destination Sustainability in Cikakak Village, Indonesia

Abstract

The development of village tourism relies heavily on the quality of human resources capable of providing excellent service and authentic tourist experiences. This study aims to strengthen the capacity of rural tourism human resources through a participatory workshop focusing on hospitality and public speaking in Cikakak Village, Sukabumi, Indonesia. Using a participatory approach, the program engaged 30 local tourism actors, including village tourism managers, tourism awareness groups (Pokdarwis), local entrepreneurs, tour guides, and village youth. The intervention structured a five-stage process: needs identification, material preparation, interactive workshops, practical simulations (including storytelling and service scenarios), and comprehensive evaluation using pre- and post-test assessments, observation, and satisfaction questionnaires. The results demonstrated a significant increase in participants' competencies post-workshop, with hospitality understanding improving from 62% to 91% and effective communication skills rising from 58% to 88%. Furthermore, participants' confidence in delivering tourism information and public speaking boosted from 55% to 86%. Practical simulations showed enhanced abilities in welcoming visitors, handling inquiries, and communicating local cultural heritage through engaging storytelling techniques. This capacity-building program successfully transformed local community members from passive hosts into communicative and professional tourism actors. The study highlights that integrating hospitality concepts with public speaking skills provides a scalable framework for rural communities to enhance destination service quality, improve tourist satisfaction, and support sustainable rural tourism management.