Re: questionnaire

Just a quick note to thank you for bothering to respond to the questionnaire. We'll let you know our findings, if you would be interested.

Thanks again for your help.

Polly Pattullo
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Carol Hoffman <guzhoff@BELLSOUTH.NET>
    To: CANGONET@YORKU.CA <CANGONET@YORKU.CA>
    Date: 13 December 2001 11:17
    Subject: 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 13:37:11 2001