<![CDATA[Marine tourism destinations commonly rely on tourist boats as the primary means of transportation to visit surrounding attractions. Improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism industry can be largely achieved through the development of boats that prioritize usability. The tourism ecosystem depends heavily on transportation, particularly marine vessels, which are central to the operation of marine tourism destinations. A usability-focused analysis of tourism boat design can significantly enhance the competitiveness of SMEs operating in this sector. However, empirical studies applying standardized usability evaluation tools to SME-operated marine tourism vessels in developing countries remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the usability of a tourism boat using a structured usability assessment approach. Respondents were recruited through purposive sampling and assessed using an adapted System Usability Scale (SUS) instrument based on a five-point Likert scale. The SUS questionnaire was administered to evaluate the perceived usability of the tourism boat. A tourist boat with a SUS score of 52.2 falls within the marginal-low range. This indicates that while the boat's usability is rated in the lower range, it remains within an acceptable threshold. Key usability issues identified include absent seat handrails, difficult-to-open windows, narrow staircases, and insufficient life jackets. Accordingly, the proposed improvements focus on redesigning the boat to be more user-friendly, emphasizing ease of use and operational effectiveness as core usability principles. These findings provide practical guidance for SME operators and policymakers in adopting user-centered vessel design to enhance service quality and regional marine tourism competitiveness.]]>
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