dyfi valley pilot visitor survey 2002 presentation to dyfi eco valley partnership november 2002
TRANSCRIPT
DYFI VALLEY PILOT VISITOR SURVEY 2002
Presentation to Dyfi Eco Valley Partnership
November 2002
STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION
• INTRODUCTION
• RESEARCH FINDINGS
- Profile of Visitors
- Profile of Visits
- Reasons for Visit and Previous Visits
- Facilities Used
- Information Sources
- Enjoyment of Visit
- Perceptions of Dyfi Valley
- Likelihood of Revisiting
- The Environmental Visitor Centre
• SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES
• In 2002, pilot research commissioned to obtain
information about visitors to the Dyfi Valley
• Purpose of survey: to give a picture of the
profile, behaviour, characteristics & perceptions
of visitors to the Dyfi Valley and to evaluate
support for the proposed environmental Visitor
Centre
METHODOLOGY
• Quantitative study involving two surveys:
Street Survey
• A face-to-face street survey with a random sample of 300
visitors
• Two sampling points – Aberdyfi (200 interviews) &
Machynlleth (100 interviews)
• Respondents aged 16 years and over
• Residents & those working in the area excluded
METHODOLOGY continued
• Visitors interviewed over cross-section of days
of week
• Interviews 10 minutes duration
• Fieldwork conducted 18 October – 4 November
2002
METHODOLOGY continued
Self-completion survey with interviewer
accompaniment
• 3,000 self-completion questionnaires distributed to 11 outlets
• Poor response (7%) most likely due to time of year (maybe
staff encouragement as well?)
• Fieldwork took place 18 October - 6 November
• Future recommendation would be just a face-to-face survey, if
budget allows
METHODOLOGY continued
• Breakdown of response by outlet:
- Centre for Alternative Technology (35 out of 450 - 8%)
- Corris Craft Centre (37 out of 400 – 9%)
- Celtica (24 out of 200 – 12%)
- Talyllyn Railway (2 out of 200 – 1%)
- Timberkits (26 out of 200 – 13%)
- Bro Dyfi Leisure Centre (4 out of 200 – 2%)
- Tabernacl and Museum of Modern Art (28 out of 200 – 14%)
- Beiciau Madium Quads (14 out of 200 – 7%)
- Trefeddian Hotel (45 out of 200 – 23%)
- 0% response at Co-op & Aberdyfi Tourist Information Centre
RESEARCH FINDINGS
PROFILE OF VISITORS
49 51
73
27
14
56
30
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Male Female ABC1 C2DE 16 - 34 35 - 54 55 +
Profile of Sample%
BASE: all respondents (300)
17
6
3
14
9
10
30
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Unemployed/retired/housewife
Plant/machine operatives
Sales
Craft/related occupations
Clerical/secretarial
Associateprofessional/technical
Professional
Managers/Administrators
SOCIAL OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION (outlet survey)
%
BASE: outlet (219)
66
21
8
2 2
67
27
1 04
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
England Wales Abroad Rest of UK Unknown/refused
Street Outlet
HOME LOCATION%
BASE: all respondents (street : 300, outlet : 219)
HOME LOCATION OF VISITORS FROM ENGLAND
%
1
7
20
24
47
3
6
24
26
42
0 10 20 30 40 50
E Anglia
South WestEngland
South EastEngland
North England
Midlands
Street
Outlet
BASE: respondents from England (street :198, outlet: 147)
BASE: respondents from Wales (street: 64, outlet: 59)
HOME LOCATION OF VISITORS FROM WALES
%
20
17
24
39
16
27
31
27
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
S W Wales
Mid Wales
S E Wales
North Wales
Street
Outlet
PROFILE OF VISITS
Q3) MAIN PURPOSE OF VISIT%
4
5
2
3
10
38
37
3
1
2
8
13
34
39
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Other/non response
Pasing through
Shopping
Visiting Friends/relatives
On a day trip or shorter
For holiday, staying away from home
For a short break, staying away from home
Street
Outlet
BASE: respondents from England (street :300, outlet: 219)
Not surprisingly, those from further a field more likely to be staying away from home. Day trippers more local and from lower socio-economic grades.
BASE: those respondents not on a daytrip (Street: 262, Outlet: 192)
Q4) WHETHER VISITORS STAYING IN OR AROUND THE DYFI VALLEY
%
74
24
13
87
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Yes No
Street Outlet
Q5) WHERE VISITORS STAYING %
BASE: those respondents staying in or around the Dyfi Valley (street: 229, outlet: 143)
3
2
7
3
8
10
40
0
3
0
11
14
14
45
0 10 20 30 40 50
Corris
Dolgellau
Pennal
Borth
Tywyn
Machynlleth
Aberdyfi
StreetOutlet
Q6) TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION USED
%
BASE: those respondents staying in or around the Dyfi Valley (Street: 229, Outlet: 143)
2
3
3
2
10
10
8
34
27
1
1
2
3
3
8
30
7
45
0 10 20 30 40 50
Guesthouse
Touring/Caravan
Hostel
Bed & Breakfast
Second/holiday home
Friends/relatives
Static caravan
Hotel
Holiday flat/cottage
Street
Outlet
Lower social grades most likely to stay in caravans higher grades in holiday flat/cottages
13
28
37
5
1718
37 38
3 3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
1-2 3-4 5-7 8-14 Don'tknow/nonresponse
Street Outlet
Q7) LENGTH OF STAY (NIGHTS) %
Average number of nights = 5
BASE: those respondents staying in or around the Dyfi Valley (Street: 229, Outlet: 143)
6
25
46
15
6
1
7
19
43
19
3
9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Up to 1 hr 1-2 hrs 3-5 hrs 6-9 hrs 10+ hrs Don'tknow/nonresponse
StreetOutlet
Q8) LENGTH OF TIME IN DYFI VALLEY– DAY VISITORS
%
BASE: those respondents on a day trip or not staying in the Dyfi Valley (Street: 71, Outlet: 69)
Younger visitors (16-34 yrs) likely to stay longer
Q9) MAIN METHOD OF TRANSPORT%
1
2
2
94
1
2
2
95
0 20 40 60 80 100
Other/nonresponse
Train
Bus/coach
Own car/van
StreetOutlet
Younger visitors (16 –24 yrs) more likely to use public transport
BASE: all respondents (Street: 300, Outlet: 219)
Q10) PARTY COMPOSITION %
2
3
5
11
28
50
1
7
7
6
35
43
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Organised group
Alone
Friends
Family and friends
Spouse/partner
Family group
Street
Outlet
BASE: all respondents (Street: 300, Outlet: 219)
7
42
32
16
3 33
33
37
20
5 4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
One Two Three toFour
Five to Nine Ten Plus Average
StreetOutlet
Q12) NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN PERSONAL GROUP
%
BASE: All respondents (Street: 300, Outlet: 219)
60
13 15
83 2
49
1619
14
2 2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
None/nonresponse
One Two Three-Four Five plus Average (ofthose withchildren)
StreetOutlet
Q13) NUMBER OF CHILDREN AGED 15 OR UNDER IN PERSONAL GROUP
%
BASE: All respondents (Street: 300, Outlet: 219)
REASONS FOR VISIT AND PREVIOUS VISITS
BASE: all respondents (Street: 300, Outlet: 219)
Q2 REASONS FOR VISIT%
6
4
15
9
16
19
12
11
12
38
3
5
2
10
5
4
18
19
20
54
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Other
Advert/poster
On Holiday
Brochure/guide book
Shops
Word of mouth/recommendation
To attend a particular event, activity or attraction
Walks
Visiting Friends/family
The beach
Previous visit
Street
Outlet
Q1) FREQUENCY OF VISITING %
BASE: all respondents (street: 300, self-completion:219)
12
16
21
16
5
28
13
19
28
19
10
11
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Less often than once a year
Once a year
2-3 times a year
4-11 times a year
At least once a month
Have never visited before
StreetOutlet
1st time visitors most likely to be young (16-24 yrs)
FACILITIES USED
Q14) FACILITIES USED/LIKELY TO USE(street survey only)
%
4
5
14
22
30
32
38
60
60
71
71
78
0 20 40 60 80 100
Golf CoursePicnic area
Leisure CentreChildren's Play Area
TIC
Walking trailsPub
ToiletsBeach
Car Park
Restaurant/caféShops
BASE: all respondents (300)
INFORMATION SOURCES
Q22) INFORMATION SOURCE PRIOR TO VISITING
%
BASE: all respondents (street: 300, self-completion:219)
21
10
11
16
14
26
26
42
3
7
3
13
19
23
0 10 20 30 40 50
Did not obtain information
Guidebook
WTB
Information at hotel/accomodation
Internet
TIC
Word of mouth/ recommendation
StreetOutlet
Q23) PREFERRED SOURCE OF INFORMATION
%
BASE: all respondents (street: 300, self-completion:219)
16
22
28
37
39
7
7
26
23
42
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
WTB
Information at hotel/accomodation
Word of mouth/recommendation
Internet
TIC
StreetOutlet
ENJOYMENT OF VISIT
78
18
2 1
78
20
1 10
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
VeryEnjoyable
FairlyEnjoyable
NotParticularlyEnjoyable
Not at allEnjoyable
Don't know/non response
Street Outlet
Q14 & 15) ENJOYMENT OF VISIT%
BASE: all respondents (street: 300, self-completion:219)
STREET OUTLET
Beautiful scenery/views (25%)
It’s relaxing/peaceful (23%)
Weather (23%)
People (5%)
Seeing family/friends (4%)
Beach (4%)
Like Wales (4%)
Very enjoyable (4%)
Memories/been before (4%)
Beautiful scenery (45%)
Peaceful/relaxing (13%)
Weather (10%)
Interesting place (9%)
Great attraction (7%)
Great for shops/facilities (5%)
Hotel we’re in (5%)
Great for walking (4%)
Enjoyable area (4%)
Q15&16) MAIN REASON FOR ENJOYMENT
%
BASE: respondents who enjoyed visit (street:290, outlet:214)
STREET OUTLET
Countryside (31%)
Beaches (20%)
People and atmosphere (18%)
Weather (5%)
Attractions (4%)
Shops (4%)
Don’t know (5%)
Scenery (26%)
Peacefulness (7%)
Walks (5%)
Labyrinth (5%)
Great attraction (4%)
CAT (4%)
Hotel we’re at (4%)
Don’t know/non-response (15%)
Q16&17) MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF VISIT
%
BASE: all respondents (street:300, outlet:219)
STREET OUTLET
Weather (38%)
Nothing (50%)
Don’t know (4%)
Weather (45%)
Having to go home (2%)
Getting here (2%)
Attraction closed early (2%)
Nothing/non-response (38%)
Q17&18) LEAST ENJOYABLE ASPECTS OF VISIT
%
BASE: all respondents (street:300, outlet:219)
PERCEPTIONS OF THE DYFI VALLEY
Q20 &21) ATTITUDES & PERCEPTIONS %
BASE: all respondents (519)
6
3
3
3
7
2
73
93
94
94
18
2
21
3
3
3
76
96
0 20 40 60 80 100
There's nothing to do ifit rains
There's a lot of litteraround
It's not for my agegroup
It's rather boring
It has something foreveryone
A place that familiescan enjoy
Don't know/non response Disagree Agree
Higher disagreement for street & younger visitors
Higher agreement amongst younger visitors
Higher agreement for street
Attractions to be open longer (4%)
Indoor activities when raining (3%)
Public Transport (3%)
Nothing/non-response (70%)
Q21) SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT(outlet survey)
%
BASE: all respondents (219)
LIKELIHOOD OF REVISITING
BASE: all respondents (street:300, outlet:219)
Q18&19) LIKELIHOOD OF REVISITING %
Likelihood is highest for those residing in Wales and visitors aged 35+
1 0 1
77
18
0 1 410
88
0102030405060708090
100
Very likely Fairly likely Fairlyunlikely
Very unlikely Don'tknow/non-response
Street Outlet
Q19 &20) LIKELY RETURN VISIT %
BASE: respondents who are likely to revisit (street:294, outlet:208)
6
1
1
19
73
2
1
13
84
0 20 40 60 80 100
Don't know/non-response
6 years or more
Next 4-5 years
Next 2-3 years
Next year
Outlet Street
Visitors aged 35+, those from lower social grades and Wales likely to return sooner
THE ENIVIRONMENTAL VISITOR CENTRE
Q24) EXHIBITIONS THE VISITOR CENTRE SHOULD INCLUDE
%
BASE: all respondents (300)
3
64
68
87
89
89
0 20 40 60 80 100
Don't know
Green energy, waterand waste recycling
Global environmentalconcerns
Dyfi valley, estuary andCardigan Bay
Local sea life, plantsand animals
Local History
Q25) FACILITIES THE VISITOR CENTRE SHOULD INCLUDE – TOP 8
%
BASE: all respondents (300)
73
74
80
83
83
83
86
90
0 20 40 60 80 100
Information point
Aquarium
Education room for schools & groups
Chilren's play area
Outdoor picnic area
Shop
Viewing platform over Estuary
Café
Q25) FACILITIES THE VISITOR CENTRE SHOULD INCLUDE – 9 - 17
%
BASE: all respondents (300)
3
50
62
66
68
70
71
71
72
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Don't know
Cyber café
Meeting room for groups
Climbing wall
Reseach library/study area
Planetarium/night sky exhibition
Temporary exhibition area
Telescopes over Estuary/sea
Environmental news bulletin board
BASE: all respondents (300)
Q26) LIKELIHOOD OF VISITING THE CENTRE
Interest very high overall, however younger respondents & ABC1s most likely to visit
2 1 1
25
71
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Very likely Fairly likely Fairly unlikely Very unlikely Don't know
Q27) HOW MUCH VISITORS PREPARED TO PAY
%
BASE: all respondents (300)
16
5
12
9
29
27
3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Don't know
Nothing
Eleven pounds plus
Six to ten pounds
Four to five pounds
Two to three pounds
One pound
Those from higher socio-economic grades prepared to pay more
Q28) IDEAS/SUGGESTIONS ABOUT PROPOSED VISITOR CENTRE
%
BASE: all respondents (300)
71
2
2
3
4
4
5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
No suggestions/Don'tknow
Hands on technology
A mapped walk aroundthe Centre
Environmentallyfriendly as possible
Car park facilitiesincluded in price
Make it appealing foryoung kids
Make buildingsdiscreet
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
• Profile of visitors to the Dyfi Valley markedly:
– Upmarket 73% ABC1
– Middle age range (56% 35-54 yrs) • Visitors mainly from England (esp. Midlands)
• Encouragingly, around three quarters staying away from home (for average of 5 nights) & most staying in or around the Dyfi Valley
• Most family groups (outlet) & couples (street)
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS (Continued)
• Very high level of repeat visiting & top reason for visit was previous visit
• Favourite activities cited: attractions, beach, walking & shops
• Turning to information sources, Internet preferred by most, after TIC, however not reflected in usage – limited internet sources?
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS (Continued)
• Overall perceptions/opinions extremely positive:– 96/98% found visit enjoyable (78% very enjoyable)– 95/98% likely to revisit (& most next year)– 94% disagreeing the Dyfi Valley is boring– 96% agreeing it’s a place families can enjoy
• Visitors especially like the scenery, peace and relaxation
• Some areas for improvement evident:– Attractions to be open longer (minority)– Nothing to do if it rains (one in five)– One in five disagreed there’s something for everyone– Higher criticism by younger visitors apparent (16-34 yrs)
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS (Continued)
• The Environmental Visitor Centre – nearly all likely to visit (96%), especially appealing to younger visitors & ABC1s
• Most willing to pay between £2 to £5