northern ireland passenger survey (nips)

Northern Ireland Passenger Survey

(NIPS)

Summary of Presentation Background to the Northern Ireland

Passenger Survey (NIPS)

Methodology and Outturn

Some Practical Issues


(NIPS) Development – Summer 2009

Pilot/Dress Rehearsal – Nov/Dec 2010

Golive at ports and airports – Jan 2010

Second year - Jan 2011


(NIPS) The target population for the survey is: those passengers departing NI who are not

residents of the Island of Ireland and who have spent at least one night in NI (or in

the ROI) but less than a year and their visit is not done so frequently as to be part

of their usual environment i.e. at least weekly Collects country of residence, purpose of

visit, nights stayed, locations visited and expenditure.

NIPS Survey There are two different types of

interviews within the survey. Short/Country of Residence Interview

(CoR) Country of residence, nights stayed,

reason for visit, total expenditure and party size.

Full/Long Interview CoR, nights stayed, reasons for visit,

reasons for selecting NI, how booked trip, activities participated in, locations stayed, transport used, expenditure broken down, views on value for money and occupation.

CSU NIPS Methodology Sample visitors to the Island of

Ireland, but only once per visit. ‘Flow’ sampling at all exit ports in NI

to get a representative sample of everyone leaving NI

Interviewing is conducted on tablet computers using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)

Flow Sampling

Advantages of Flow Sampling

Robust, systematic and clear rules. No interviewer discretion on who to

select Self-weighting Flexible – sampling fraction can be

varied Over-sampling and sub-sampling are

possible

2010 NIPS PlanTargets 2010 2011 (Jan-Jun)

Visitors16,000

(of which 8,000 are long NIPS Interviews)

Contacts


Visitors16,000


Contacts 64,000

Challenges Falling passenger numbers for all air and

seaports since 2008, the year on which planning was based.

April 2010 - Volcanic Ash

December 2010 - Severe weather


Visitors16,000


15,555

Contacts 64,000 68,689

The eligibility rate was lower than assumed in the design stage so it was necessary to add additional shifts and increase the number of contacts to try and achieve the target of 16,000 visitors in 2010.


Visitors16,000


15,555 7,248

Contacts 64,000 68,689 29,178

The eligibility rate was lower than assumed in the design stage so it was necessary to add additional shifts and increase the number of contacts to try and achieve the target of 16,000 visitors in 2010.

Composition of Achieved Sample

2010 (n) 2010 (%) 2011 (n)Jan – June

2011 (%)Jan - June

Total contacts 68,689 - 29,178 -

Non Eligible 45,152 - 18,196 -

Eligible and Not Known 23,537 100% 10,982 100%

Complete 14,057 59.7% 6,747 61.4%

Partial 863 3.7% 444 4.0%

Minimum 1,359 5.8% 287 2.6%

Refusal or Non contact 3,693 15.7% 1,682 15.3%

Clicks (all interviewers are already interviewing, so respondent was not approached)

3,565 15.1% 1,822 16.6%

Difficulties at sea ports The weather!

interviewers work in the car lanes. Sun – reflections on the computer screen Rain

Non contacts when boarding starts - interviewers not permitted to work in car lanes when vehicles are moving.

Difficulties at Derry Airport

The interviewers cannot interview passengers when the planes are boarding. Increased non-contacts Increased partial interviews.

Difficulties at Belfast City Airport

New departure lounge (in 2010)

New shops and stalls - interviewers taking customers

Non Contacts - passengers entering bar and restaurant

Refusals from Business travellers before 9am on weekdays – interviewers try to collect CoR only from the passengers

Sunday evening shift very busy – not enough space to increase the team of interviewers

Respondents at BHD by day and time

NB: Interim data Jan – Aug 2011, that is still being cleaned and unpublished.

Interim data

Respondents at BHD by day and time


The average clicks on a Sunday pm shift is 57 passengers. We would expect 34 of them to be visitors.

Belfast International Airport Difficulties

New airport layout

Sunday night shifts

Original Layout of Belfast International Airport

Interviewers

Counting Line

Interviewers

Counting Line

BFS Outcomes, 2011Outcome Original

counting point (%) (1/1/2011 – 6/06/2011)

Non Eligible 67.9

Complete 21.3 Minimum 1.0 Partial 1.5 Refusal 1.8 Non Contact 0.9 Click 5.5

New Layout at BFS

New Layout at BFS

Counting Point 1

New Layout at BFS

Interviewers

Counting Point 1


counting point (%) (1/1/2011 – 6/06/2011)

New counting point 1 (%)(7/06/2011 – 25/7/2011)

Non Eligible 67.9 51.9 Non Eligible – Recross*

n/a 1.0

Complete 21.3 12.5 Minimum 1.0 0.3Partial 1.5 0.9 Refusal 1.8 1.6 Non Contact 0.9 15.8 Click 5.5 16.0* This is a passenger that has already been

interviewed during the shift and has now recrossed the counting line.

New Layout at BFS

Interviewers

Counting Point 1


counting point (%) (1/1/2011 – 6/06/2011)


New counting point 1 with sketches (%) (26/7/2011)

Non Eligible 67.9 51.9 47.9Non Eligible – Recross*

n/a 1.0 2.1

Complete 21.3 12.5 23.6Minimum 1.0 0.3 1.8Partial 1.5 0.9 1.8Refusal 1.8 1.6 2.3Non Contact 0.9 15.8 12.4Click 5.5 16.0 8.0

* This is a passenger that has already been interviewed during the shift and has now recrossed the counting line.

New Layout at BFS

Interviewers

Counting Point 2


counting point (%) (1/1/2011 – 6/06/2011)


New counting point 1 with sketches (%) (26/7/2011)

New counting point 2 (%) (31/7/2011 – 31/8/2011)#

Non Eligible 67.9 51.9 47.9 57.5Non Eligible – Recross*

n/a 1.0 2.1 2.4

Complete 21.3 12.5 23.6 17.8Minimum 1.0 0.3 1.8 1.0Partial 1.5 0.9 1.8 1.5Refusal 1.8 1.6 2.3 1.9Non Contact 0.9 15.8 12.4 2.0Click 5.5 16.0 8.0 15.8

# Interim data that is still being cleaned.

* This is a passenger that has already been interviewed during the shift and has now recrossed the counting line.


New airport layout

Sunday night shifts

Respondents at BFS by day and time

Interim data


Sunday pm shift at BFScount %

Total 3,511

Visitors 1,323 37.7%

Not Visitors 1,034 29.5%

Refusals/Non contact

482 13.7%

Clicks 672 19.1%

NB: figures are based on all 5 Sunday pm shifts, so far this year.

Sunday pm shift at BFScount % %

contacted responses

Total 3,511 2,357 (n)Visitors 1,323 37.7% 56.1%Not Visitors 1,034 29.5% 43.9%Refusals/Non contact

482 13.7%

Clicks 672 19.1% 377 visitors295 not visitors

NB: figures are based on all 5 Sunday pm shifts, so far this year.

Estimated Number of Visitors not Interviewed due to Clicks,

2010 and 2011

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2010 2011

Year

Coun

t

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Possible Solutions to ‘Clicks’

Use more interviewers on shifts. due to space restrictions we could not increase the

team.. Change the sampling fraction.

this will decrease the total number of interviews Change the rotation of the long/short

questionnaire. this will increase the number of contacts (fewer clicks)

but decrease the number of long interviews Shorten the questionnaire.

this will allow interviewers to approach more respondents, reducing clicks

Questions?


(NIPS)

Northern Ireland Passenger Survey (NIPS)

NIPS had been running for many years by NITB.

Provide estimates of volume and value of overseas visitors to Northern Ireland who leave through its ports; it also provides details of these visitors and their trips.

Includes details on country of residence, purpose of visit, nights stayed, locations visited and expenditure.


New airport layout Security exit now leads straight into the

restaurant New counting point

Sunday nights shift is mainly visitors and the interviewers are missing a lots of possible interviews.

northern ireland passenger survey (nips)

Documents

nips surveythere

nips planthe eligibility

island of ireland

purpose of visit

different types of interviews

total expenditure

additional shifts

design stage