Sport Tourism, Regional Development, and Urban Resilience: A Focus on Regional Economic Development in Lake Toba District, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Thank you for the opportunity to review the manuscript entitled: “Sport Tourism, Regional Development, and Urban Resilience: A focus on Regional Economic Development in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia”. This study elaborates a very interesting topic concerning several key role variables for the sport tourism and tourism destination’s development. However, after carefully reading the ms some minor concerns have raised. Overall, I would hope that the author(s) find the comments to be constructive and helpful. I wish the author(s) all the best for developing their work!

Please see my comments bellow:

Introduction

-        I recommend author(s) to add a separate section developing some paragraphs for the F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) World Championship. Adding that will explain the magnitude of this event.

Materials & Methods

-        More details are needed in terms of the data collection. Author(s) noted p.4 l.147: …various websites. Could you provide some paradigms? This will support the transparency of the study.

Discussion

-        Well written. I strongly suggest author(s) compare their results with previous studies? Are they in line? Are there any differences?

Author Response

Author response for all of Reviewer:

We would like to thank the reviewers who have been willing to provide input and suggestions for our articles. We really appreciate it and thank you very much for that. The suggestions and input from the reviewers are very meaningful and that is very good and extraordinary for us. Once again, we would like to thank the reviewers who are willing to take their time to read, examine and provide suggestions for us in the midst of their busy schedules.

REVIEW REPORT (Round 1)

Dari Reviewer (1)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors:

• Thank you for the opportunity to review the manuscript entitled: “Sport Tourism, Regional Development, and Urban Resilience: A focus on Regional Economic Development in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia”. This study elaborates a very interesting topic concerning several key role variables for the sport tourism and tourism destination’s development. However, after carefully reading the ms some minor concerns have raised. Overall, I would hope that the author(s) find the comments to be constructive and helpful. I wish the author(s) all the best for developing their work!
• Response from the Author: We really appreciate the suggestions and recommendations for improvements given by the reviewers to improve the quality of our articles.
• Introduction -        I recommend author(s) to add a separate section developing some paragraphs for the F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) World Championship. Adding that will explain the magnitude of this event.
• Response from the Author: We have added a few paragraphs explaining the F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) World Championship sport event which was held at Lake Toba, Indonesia. At the same time, the aim is to hold a sports tourism event in order to increase tourist visits post-covid-19 and increase regional economic growth in the Lake Toba region, Indonesia.
• Materials & Methods -  More details are needed in terms of the data collection. Author(s) noted p.4 l.147: …various websites. Could you provide some paradigms? This will support the transparency of the study.
• Response from the Author: We have added a more detailed explanation of the research methods we use in terms of data collection techniques to research data analysis techniques.
• Discussion -   Well written. I strongly suggest author(s) compare their results with previous studies? Are they in line? Are there any differences?
• Response from the Author: We have added several related studies, and the results show that there is the same tendency that sports tourism events to have an impact on increasing the regional economy.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear author(s), 

first, thank you very much for giving me a chance to read and review your article entitled Sport Tourism, Regional Development, and Urban Resilience: A focus on Regional Economic Development in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia. 

The topic of sport events development and their influence on tourism and overall economic development is of great interest for a number of destinations, and that is why I believe this type of research should be very clearly development and written. 

Building on that note, I would recommend a number of improvements to your paper: 

- English language has to be improved, please send it for proof reading. The improper use of language results in poor understanding of the text and therefore diminished interest to read it. I especially draw your attention to the use of the phrase "Sport Tourism F1 Powerboat event". There is absolutely no need to say Sport Tourism before the name of the event. You are discussing possible effects of an event on the development of sport tourism, tourism and overall economic development. 

- This is an empirical research and I see no set hypothesis? You state the focus of the study is to find out the dynamics of regional economic development in terms of digital trends in the Sport Tourism Event F1 Powerboat.... If this is the case - what digital trends are we talking about? Put it in a context. From text presented in your paper, it seems that the point was to discuss possible effects of an event on regional development using digital media search results. Either your aim was wrongfully determined or your results were not presented as they should have been. 

- I see no theoretical background for your research. Majority of sources you use are official documents - ok, but theoretical background has to be set, and your hypothesis based on that. 

- Unclear what figure 5 represents? What are the units you are presenting here? How is text above the figure connected with the data in the figure? Also, in figure 6 - it is usual to talk about number of arrivals or overnight stays and not persons.

- In the discussion and conclusions there is no reference to set aim of the paper? 

Author Response

Author response for all of Reviewer:

We would like to thank the reviewers who have been willing to provide input and suggestions for our articles. We really appreciate it and thank you very much for that. The suggestions and input from the reviewers are very meaningful and that is very good and extraordinary for us. Once again, we would like to thank the reviewers who are willing to take their time to read, examine and provide suggestions for us in the midst of their busy schedules.

Dari Reviewer (2)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors:

• First, thank you very much for giving me a chance to read and review your article entitled Sport Tourism, Regional Development, and Urban Resilience: A focus on Regional Economic Development in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Response from the Author: We really appreciate the suggestions and recommendations for improvements given by the reviewers to improve the quality of our articles.
• The topic of sport events development and their influence on tourism and overall economic development is of great interest for a number of destinations, and that is why I believe this type of research should be very clearly development and written.
• Response from the Author: We are very grateful for suggestions and recommendations for improvement from kind-hearted reviewers to help in improving the quality of our articles.
• Building on that note, I would recommend a number of improvements to your paper:
• Response from Author: Thank you for the suggestions and recommendations for improvement. We really appreciate it.
• - English language has to be improved, please send it for proof reading. The improper use of language results in poor understanding of the text and therefore diminished interest to read it. I especially draw your attention to the use of the phrase "Sport Tourism F1 Powerboat event". There is absolutely no need to say Sport Tourism before the name of the event. You are discussing possible effects of an event on the development of sport tourism, tourism and overall economic development.
• Response from Author: We have handed over to a professional team in improving the quality of English in our articles.
• - This is an empirical research and I see no set hypothesis? You state the focus of the study is to find out the dynamics of regional economic development in terms of digital trends in the Sport Tourism Event F1 Powerboat.... If this is the case - what digital trends are we talking about? Put it in a context. From text presented in your paper, it seems that the point was to discuss possible effects of an event on regional development using digital media search results. Either your aim was wrongfully determined or your results were not presented as they should have been.
• Response from Author: We have improved our research focus which is directed at studying the economic impact of organizing the F1H20 sports tourism event in the Lake Toba Region, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
• - I see no theoretical background for your research. Majority of sources you use are official documents - ok, but theoretical background has to be set, and your hypothesis based on that.
• Response from Author: We have added several conceptual/theoretical views regarding the concept of "regional economic development" and the concept of "resilience" as a conceptual guide in the analysis of the research problems we examine.
• - Unclear what figure 5 represents? What are the units you are presenting here? How is text above the figure connected with the data in the figure? Also, in figure 6 - it is usual to talk about number of arrivals or overnight stays and not persons.
• Response from Author: Figure 5 and Figure 6 are meant to reveal facts/information about trends in economic growth through the promotion of F1H20 pre-event sport tourism activities on Lake Toba through data on hotel visitors and foreign tourists. This will show the economic impact in the F1H20 event area, and how much the sport tourism event is well responded to by tourists.
• - In the discussion and conclusions there is no reference to set aim of the paper? 
• Response from Author: We have added a number of positive and negative impacts so that they can answer the dynamics of Lake Toba F1H20 sports tourism in regional economic development.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The scientific literature on the impact of sports events, regardless of the area in which they are held (land, sea, mountains) with a tourist or leisure clientele has shown that the vast majority of these events (especially mega-events) have a limited economic impact with regard to public investments (local and national) in the medium and long term, and above all, negative impacts on the natural environment and local populations (in spite of the creation of one-off jobs for this event).
So this article overestimates the economic impact of the Sport Tourism F1 Powerboat and looks more like a tourism promotion tool for Indonesian companies and public decision makers than an objective research on the sustainable development of this event.

Author Response

Author response for all of Reviewer:

We would like to thank the reviewers who have been willing to provide input and suggestions for our articles. We really appreciate it and thank you very much for that. The suggestions and input from the reviewers are very meaningful and that is very good and extraordinary for us. Once again, we would like to thank the reviewers who are willing to take their time to read, examine and provide suggestions for us in the midst of their busy schedules.

Dari Reviewer (3)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors:

• The scientific literature on the impact of sports events, regardless of the area in which they are held (land, sea, mountains) with a tourist or leisure clientele has shown that the vast majority of these events (especially mega-events) have a limited economic impact with regard to public investments (local and national) in the medium and long term, and above all, negative impacts on the natural environment and local populations (in spite of the creation of one-off jobs for this event).
• Response from the Author: Organizing the F1H20 sports tourism event on Lake Toba (water sports) has had a positive impact economically, but there have been some negative impacts socially and ecologically. We have added this to our manuscript.
• So this article overestimates the economic impact of the Sport Tourism F1 Powerboat and looks more like a tourism promotion tool for Indonesian companies and public decision makers than an objective research on the sustainable development of this event.
• Response from the Author: We confirm and declare that we are conducting this research as objectively as possible according to the facts and problems that occur in the field, without intervention from anywhere.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Author(s),

I have received the revised manuscript. My major concern was about your English language and the research question itself. You state that you "have handed over to a professional team in improving the quality of English in our articles." but I see no changes to expression Sport Tourism Event F1H20 - it is still throughout the entire text. 

Also, you state that you "have improved our research focus which is directed at studying the economic impact of organizing the F1H20 sports tourism event in the Lake Toba Region, North Sumatra, Indonesia." which is more clearly defined aim. If I understand correctly, your aim was to research if the event F1H20 contributed to economic development of Lake Toba Region and you wanted to do this by: 1. examining tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy rates, and

2. through possible promotional effects of other attractions in the area by analysing their mentions in digital media and consequently possible increase in their visits.

If this is the case why don't you clearly say this?

Also, you seem to equalize the terms tourist arrivals and economic growth because, if I understood your explanation correctly, figure 5 (and 6) represent data on the number of tourist arrivals (and I repeat: it should be the number of arrivals and/or overnight stays and not tourists) and you say that "Based on the data above, it shows that there has been a decline in economic growth in North Sumatra during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to –2021. However, in 2022, there was an increase in economic growth in the tourism sector."

I strongly suggest you rethink this concept. Economic growth is usually measured by increase in GDP, and tourism is just one segment of that GDP. How is GDP of the region you are analysing structured? If your are discussing possible effects on economic growth we should see data about the level of economic development probably in the form of GDP levels because, as you clearly mention in the text "tourist spending by visitors is a potential source of economic growth and/or employment". What is the contribution of tourism to GDP (level of economic development) in area you are studying? 

I might be mistaking and you wish to analyse only tourism development - this can be measured by the number of visits, overnight stays and tourist spending.

Finally, your interest is in domestic tourists (they can increase resiliance of the economy) and yet you analyse data about international tourist arrivals in figure 6.? 

You have to be very clear as to aims of your paper, research questions, and consequently analysed data (sample included in the research) and used methods. 

Author Response

Author response for all of Reviewer:

Again. We would like to thank the reviewers who have been willing to provide input and suggestions for our articles. We really appreciate it and thank you very much for that. The suggestions and input from the reviewers are very meaningful and that is very good and extraordinary for us. Once again, we would like to thank the reviewers who are willing to take their time to read, examine and provide suggestions for us in the midst of their busy schedules.

REVIEW REPORT (Round 2)

 

Dari Reviewer (2)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors:

• I have received the revised manuscript. My major concern was about your English language and the research question itself. You state that you "have handed over to a professional team in improving the quality of English in our articles." but I see no changes to expression Sport Tourism Event F1H20 - it is still throughout the entire text.
• Response from the Author: We have revised it according to suggestions and recommendations from reviewers.
• Also, you state that you "have improved our research focus which is directed at studying the economic impact of organizing the F1H20 sports tourism event in the Lake Toba Region, North Sumatra, Indonesia." which is more clearly defined aim. If I understand correctly, your aim was to research if the event F1H20 contributed to economic development of Lake Toba Region and you wanted to do this by: 1. examining tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy rates, and 2. through possible promotional effects of other attractions in the area by analysing their mentions in digital media and consequently possible increase in their visits. If this is the case why don't you clearly say this?
• Response from Author: The focus of this research is to identify the dynamics of regional economic development through digital trends towards tourist visits and the promotion of tourist destinations in the Lake Toba area during the F1 Powerboat World Championship (F1H2O) event on Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Also, you seem to equalize the terms tourist arrivals and economic growth because, if I understood your explanation correctly, figure 5 (and 6) represent data on the number of tourist arrivals (and I repeat: it should be the number of arrivals and/or overnight stays and not tourists) and you say that "Based on the data above, it shows that there has been a decline in economic growth in North Sumatra during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to –2021. However, in 2022, there was an increase in economic growth in the tourism sector."
• Response from Author: We have revised and presented a better explanation regarding tourist arrivals and economic growth as intended by the reviewers.
• I strongly suggest you rethink this concept. Economic growth is usually measured by increase in GDP, and tourism is just one segment of that GDP. How is GDP of the region you are analysing structured? If your are discussing possible effects on economic growth we should see data about the level of economic development probably in the form of GDP levels because, as you clearly mention in the text "tourist spending by visitors is a potential source of economic growth and/or employment". What is the contribution of tourism to GDP (level of economic development) in area you are studying?
• Response from Author: We have revised the suggestions and recommendations submitted by the reviewers by adding some data regarding the contribution of the tourism sector in organizing the F1H20 event. Lake Toba contributed to North Sumatra's GRDP.
• I might be mistaking and you wish to analyse only tourism development - this can be measured by the number of visits, overnight stays and tourist spending.
• Response from Author: We have added several explanations regarding the potential for tourism development through the Lake Toba F1H20 event in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Finally, your interest is in domestic tourists (they can increase resiliance of the economy) and yet you analyse data about international tourist arrivals in figure 6.?
• Response from Author: We have added local tourist data that has an impact on the economic growth of the tourism sector in the Lake Toba area.
• You have to be very clear as to aims of your paper, research questions, and consequently analysed data (sample included in the research) and used methods.
• Response from Author: we have clarified our research objectives in several highlines in our manuscript.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

I think you need to reduce the size of the abstract and the size of the figures for the final article.

Author Response

Author response for all of Reviewer:

Again. We would like to thank the reviewers who have been willing to provide input and suggestions for our articles. We really appreciate it and thank you very much for that. The suggestions and input from the reviewers are very meaningful and that is very good and extraordinary for us. Once again, we would like to thank the reviewers who are willing to take their time to read, examine and provide suggestions for us in the midst of their busy schedules.

REVIEW REPORT (Round 2)

Dari Reviewer (3)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors:

• I think you need to reduce the size of the abstract and the size of the figures for the final article.
• Response from the Author: We have revised the abstract and images that have been suggested by reviewers.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

No other comments