Re: questionnaire

Polly Pattullo wrote:

> HOW SHOULD A WALKING TRAIL BE MARKETED? A number of destinations are
> developing walking trails as part of their "ecotourism product". We
> are engaged in research to ascertain the attractiveness of such a
> trail in Dominica, eastern Caribbean, in order to determine the best
> way of marketing it to the public. We would be grateful if you could
> help us by sparing a few moments to consider the following questions
> and register your responses. This questionnaire has been put together
> by Robert Cleverdon and Polly Pattullo. It is part of a marketing
> research project being done on behalf of the Caribbean Institute for
> Natural Resources (CANARI) and the Waitukubuli Ecological Foundation
> as a contribution to a study of the feasibility of creating a
> long-distance national trail in Dominica. Robert Cleverdon is an
> international tourism development and marketing analyst with
> experience working in developing countries. Polly Pattullo is a
> journalist with a special interest in the Caribbean; she is the author
> of the book Last Resorts: the cost of tourism in the Caribbean. Please
> reply to pollyp@globalnet.co.uk. by December 31 2001. We welcome
> answers from allcomers and and much appreciate your
> contribution. Please mark the Yes/No questions with a X 1. What, in
> your opinion, are the most important characteristics of a walking
> trail?
> (Please rank each item: 0 - not important, 1 - of some importance, 2 -
> of considerable importance, 3 - very important.) * natural
> features Rank 3
> * effective management Rank 3
> * appropriate accommodation Rank 3
> * community contact Rank 3
> * cultural attractions Rank 3 We went to a
> walking trail in Costa Rica that had no management, no one knew quite
> where it was (in Braulio). We took a public bus, to a drop off place,
> found it by accident. I was scared to death of being ambused by
> locals. We had no way to get into town afterwards. My friend wanted to
> hitchike. I said no. We finally got on a public bus. There were few
> signs. No station. We had to travel for hours from the capital and
> then back. No place to stay locally, no souvenirs to buy. I thought
> this was a underdeveloped country problem, until I went to the
> Apalachicola forest last week, to walk. There was no ranger station.
> The local townspeople didn't know anything. I had taken a map that I
> got at anohter national forest, otherwise I would have not had a clue.
> there was no signage within the park except for numbers of dirt roads.
> The palce was filled with hunters in big trucks, with guns, dogs and
> radar. Do you think we got out and walked? No way. Did we spend any
> money locally? NOOOOOOOOOO.
>
>
> 2. How do you like to use a walking trail? * as the sole
> attraction/purpose of a trip Yes No
> XX
> * combined with other ecotourism aspects of a trip Yes
> XX No
>
> 3. When considering a trip involving a walking trail, what attracts
> you to a specific trail? (please write in your comments) Information
> I have recevied in a travel guide. Its location near a place where we
> can have other activities, such as museums, bookstores, restaurants,
> etc.
>
> 4. What sources of information do you consult when considering a trip
> featuring a walking trail? (Please rank each item: 0 - not important,
> 1 - of some importance, 2 - of considerable importance,
> 3 - very important.) * specialist (ie relevant activity-based)
> clubs/associations Rank 0
> * specialist
> magazines
> Rank 1
> * specialist
> websites
> Rank 1
> * advertisements in general
> media Rank 3
> * articles in travel sections in general media/TV features
> Rank 3
> * travel
> agent
> Rank 0 (they know nothing about natural wonders)
> * tour
> operator
> Rank 0 - ditto
> * destination tourist
> office Rank 2
> * personal contacts with relevant experience
> Rank 3
> * any other sources - please specify and rank Lonely Planet, books on
> natural attractions in an area
> Newspaper articles - 3
>
>
> Please indicate those sources you find most useful. 5. What travel
> arrangements do you make for a walking trail trip?
> * always use a tour operator's "package"
> Yes No X
> * sometimes buy a package
> Yes No x
> * sometimes travel independently
> Yes x No
> * always travel independently
> Yes No x 6. On a walking trail what items do you buy
> from communities along the trail?
> * local foods and drinks Yes
> x No
> * handicrafts
> Yes x No
> * regular daily needs (not locally made) Yes
> x No
> * other items (film etc)
> Yes x No 7. How important is the interpretation
> of natural features along the trail?
> * highly important x
> * of some importance
> * of little or no importance
>
> 8. How important is the interpretation of cultural features along the
> trail?
> * highly important x
> * of some importance
> * of little or no importance
>
> 9. How important to you is visiting local village communities along
> the trail?
> * highly important x
> * of some importance
> * of little or no importance
>
> 10. What sort of tourist accommodation do you like to stay in along
> the trail?
> * Camp site Yes
> No x
> * Bed and breakfast in village Yes x No
> * Local guest house Yes x No
> * Hotel Yes x
> No 11. With whom do you normally travel on a walking trail trip?
> * Alone Yes
> No x
> * with partner/companion Yes x No
> * with a group of family/friends Yes x No
> * with a guide Yes x No
>
> 12. Would a one-week trip based on a walking trail in Dominica be
> attractive to you?
> * highly attractive
> * of some attraction
> * of little or no attraction I know very little about Dominica. You
> would need to sell the country to me, not just the trail.
>
> 13. What would you consider to be an acceptable daily charge for
> access to a trail?
> * up to $5
> * $5-$10 x
> * $10-$20 x
> * above $20 YOu would need to sell this too, becuase americans are
> used to getting trails for free except in national forests.
>
> Please specify the capacity in which you are answering this survey. *
> tour operator
> * activity interest group
> * media/marketing person
> * potential consumer xx
>
> Finally, could we ask you to provide some brief details about
> yourself? Age Group: below 30 ;31 - 40 ;41 - 50 ;51 -
> 60 xxx ; over 60 . When do you travel: any time
> xxx ; December-April ; May-November . Length
> of trip: up to one week ; one week xxx ; two
> week ;three weeks or more . Do you
> belong to a walking or nature-related club/association? Yes
> xx No We appreciate your interest and time in our research and
> will post an outline of our findings on this website. Robert Cleverdon
> and Polly Pattullo
Received on Thu Dec 13 07:16:54 2001