Destination resources as precursors of ecotourism competitiveness: a study of totally protected areas in Sarawak, Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic

This dataset investigates the impact of created and supporting resources on the competitiveness of ecotourism destinations in Malaysia, from the perspectives of both domestic and international tourists. A total of 189 respondents completed the questionnaire, and the data was analyzed using WarpPLS 7.0. The findings revealed that supporting resources, such as destination accessibility and the quality of tourism services, have a significant positive impact on ecotourism destination competitiveness. In contrast, created resources, including tourism infrastructure and the range of activities, did not show a significant relationship with competitiveness. These insights can help tourism practitioners better understand the role of resources in promoting sustainable ecotourism competitiveness, especially in the post-COVID-19 recovery phase.