4th Asian Academic Society International Conference (AASIC) 2016 Globalizing Asia: Integrating Science, Technology and Humanities for Future Growth and Development 499 SOC-OR-035 THE MEANING OF DESTINATIONS COMPETITIVENESS Ira Nuriya Santi, Zakiyah Zahara Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia Corresponding author‘s email: ira_nuria@yahoo.com Studies on the competitiveness of tourist destinations has been dominated by quantitative research is deemed not able to explain the phenomena behind reality. For that it is necessary to develop in- depth study through an approach that is capable of photographing the reality of truth revealed by tourists, because none of the correct measurement, all depends on the context. The aim of this study is to explore the meaning of competitiveness of tourist destinations through the perception of tourists to Pantai Tanjung KarangBeach. Subjects in this study were tourists. Metnggunakan qualitative research methods with a knife phenomenological analysis. Data collected by observation, observation, analysis and in-depth interviews description. To that end, researchers will attempt to mix and mingle with the subject of research. Findings meaning of competitiveness may provide an overview for policy makers (government) in making the regulation of tourism that benefits can be felt by all parties involved (government, private and public), the policy created is expected to create increased competitiveness among the competition of tourist destinations tight currently. Keywords: Competitiveness, Sightseeing, Marketing Strategy, Theory Travel Destinations, Phenomenology 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, tourism has become a very competitive market (Mezak, 1999; Ritchi and Crouch, 2000; Blanke and Chiesa, 2013). This is the reason that measure the competitiveness of the tourism destination it is important that strengths and weaknesses can be identified to develop future strategies of the tourism destination. The most competitive tourism destinations are the most effective creating sustainable prosperity for the people who are around (Dwyer and Kim, 2003). Research competitiveness of tourist destinations, originally performed by Haahti and Yavas (1983) and Haahti (1986) then Mezak (1999). Many studies that try to formulate as well as analyzing the competitiveness of tourism destinations in various countries associated with the increasing demands on tourism as one of the trigger important global economy (Kozak and Rimmington, 1999; Hassan, 2000; Dwyer et al 2001; Dwyer and Kim, 2003; Ritchie and Crouch, 2003; Enright and Newton, 2005). The issue of the competitiveness of tourism destinations explored challenging enough, because this strategic issue until now has not been widely explored seriously. Increasing the competitiveness of tourist destinations is seen as a strategic move to expand the market share of tourists and optimize the utilization of tourism potential of the region. Competitiveness largely determines the extent to which the ability of the tourism product to penetrate and reach the top of the global tourist market competition increasingly fierce. Every tourism destination is required to