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  1. Surveys
  2. 2007
  3. October
  4. M
  5. Marine research tourist preferences
 

A survey about the preferences of holiday makers for 12 marine research tourism holidays across Australia



Introduction

This survey is part of PhD research project at the James Cook University. The PhD is titled called ‘Development of marine research tourism across Australia’. This PhD aims to explore the nature and future for marine research tourism across Australia. To assist with this goal, information is sought via this online survey about the preferences of holiday makers for 12 different marine research tourism experiences.


What is marine research tourism?

Marine research tourism is a form of marine tourism whereby marine research is an important part of the tourist attraction.


The survey

This survey is voluntary, anonymous and completely confidential. It consists of 22 questions and 2 parts, and is estimated to take 30 minutes.

Part 1 consists of 17 questions and should take approx. 5 minutes. Part 2 consists of 5 questions and should take between 5 and 10 minutes.

For part 2, you are asked to review   12 information sheets about the 12 different marine research tourism holidays. For this survey, it is recommended that you print out the information sheets and familiarise yourself (5 to 10 minutes) with them.

Please aim to complete all the questions. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Peter Wood at [email protected] or at 61+ 7 4042 1762.


If you have any questions regarding the ethical conduct of the research project, please contact the James Cook University Ethics Officer, Tina Langford on 61+ 7 4781 4342 or [email protected].

Please note, this survey will time out after 60 minutes of no survey activity. You will receive a message 15 minutes before this 60 minute timeout.

This research is supported by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre,
established by the Australian Commonwealth Government.
 
 


PART 1 (Takes approximately 5 minutes)



Please tell us about yourself
 
 
 
Town
   
Country
   
 
2. Are you male or female? (Please select one)

 
M F
 
3. Would you please indicate your age group? (Please select one)
 
18 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60 61 – 70 71 +
 
4. How would you best describe your occupation? (Please select only one)

 
 
Self-employed
 
Professional
 
Tourism employee
 
Domestic duties
 
Office/Clerical
 
Marine educator
 
Manual/Factory worker
 
Retail
 
Undergraduate marine research student
 
Other student
 
Public Service
 
Management
 
Marine scientist
 
Tradesperson
 
Postgraduate marine research student
 
Other
 
 
5. When on a marine based holiday, would you generally describe yourself as a (Please select as many that apply)

 
 
Marine wildlife tourist
 
Adventure tourist
 
Marine resort tourist
 
Ecotourist (i.e. a traveller who seeks natural area experiences that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation
 
Scuba diver
 
Volunteer tourist (i.e. a traveller who volunteers to help other people and/or the environment)
 
Snorkeller
 
Experienced marine research tourist
 
Nature enthusiast
 
Backpacker
 
Educational tourist (i.e. a person who travels to learn and be educated)
 
Gap year traveller (i.e. a person who takes one or more years off from a study program to travel)
 
Free and independent
 
Experience seeker (i.e. a traveller who seeks in depth knowledge of a destination)
 
Other
 

 
6. Would you please tell us about your formal educational background? (Please select one)

 
High School University Technical college Other  
 
7. When at home, how many times per week would you watch television nature documentaries? (Please select one)

 
Not at all Once or twice 3 to 5 times More than 5 times
 
8. When at work, do you often work in an outdoor environment? (Please select one)


 
Not often Sometimes A lot
 
9. Do you have a working background in natural science or the environment? (Please select one)

 
Yes No
 
 
9b. If you are a marine researcher, what is your research speciality? (Please enter your answer into the text box)

   
 
 
10. Are you a supporter of an environmental conservation organisation?
(Please select one)


 
No If yes, please give an example  
 
10b. Are you an active member of a volunteer organisation?
(Please select one)


 
No If yes, please give an example  
 


Please tell us about your commercial tourism experiences in whale or dolphin watching, snorkelling or scuba diving.
 
 
11. Whale or dolphin watching experience (Please tick the appropriate boxes)
No Once 2 to 4 times 5 to 10 times 11 or more times
Have you ever been on a whale or dolphin watching tour?
In the last year, have you ever been on a whale or dolphin watching tour in Australia?
 
12. Snorkelling experience (Please tick the appropriate boxes)
No Once 2 to 10 times 11 to 50 times 51 or more times
Have you ever snorkelled in a marine environment?
In the last year, have you ever snorkelled in a marine environment in Australia?
 
13. Certified scuba diving experience (Please tick the appropriate boxes)
No Once 2 to 5 times 6 to 20 times 21 or more times
Have you ever undertaken certified scuba diving
In the last year, have you ever undertaken certified scuba diving in Australia?
 
14. If you are a certified scuba diver, how many certified scuba dives have you undertaken (Please select one)

 
1–10 11 – 30 31 – 60 61 – 100 101 +
 
15. How would you rate the importance of the following features for any of your tourism experiences? (Please tick the appropriate boxes)

Not very important Somewhat important Very important
High levels of adventure
High levels of hospitality (e.g. accommodation, food, service, comfort)
High levels of learning
Having fun
Experiencing new things
A small size of the tour group
A high level of interaction with the local culture
Social interaction with others
Experiencing solitude, tranquillity, and closeness to nature
Being with friends, family or partner
 
16. What activities would best describe what you would consider as a very high level of adventure for yourself. (Please select one or more boxes)

 
 
Swimming
 
Snorkeling
 
Scuba diving
 
Open ocean sailing
 
Swimming with tiger sharks
 
Other
 

 
17. What type of accommodation would best describe the basic level of hospitality that you would be satisfied with. (Please select one)

 
 
Camping on the beach (with basic meals)
 
A self contained beach hut
 
A fully serviced English pub
 
A four star resort in Fiji
 
A 100 foot super yacht
 
Other
 
 
 


PART 2 (Takes between 5 and 10 minutes)



Please tell us about your preference for different marine research tourism ventures


Before answering the next 5 questions, please review the 12 marine research tourism holidays that are listed in this attached PDF file.

When reviewing, please focus on those aspects of the 12 different ventures that you would like or not like to experience.


The 12 marine research tourism holidays are;

    1.    A coral spawning research and adventure trip on a tropical coral reef

    2.    A bottlenose dolphin education holiday on the southern Australian coastline

    3.    Volunteer at a penguin rescue centre on the southern Australian coastline

    4.    Survey coral reefs and help assess the impacts of climate change on coral reefs

    5.    Work with marine turtles and indigenous rangers in remote northern Australia

    6.    Biodiversity and habitat mapping in north Western Australia

    7.    Volunteer and train at an Australian whale and dolphin research institute

    8.    A day trip to the reef with some marine research as part of the attraction

    9.    Sail, volunteer and track blue whales in the Southern Ocean

    10.   A continuous sailing expedition to explore and help research the oceans of Australia

    11.   A submersible research expedition to Australia's Bon Hommey undersea ridge

    12.   Research, education and adventure across the Whitsundays of Tropical Queensland
 
 
18. If the cost of each venture was not an obstacle, how interested would you be to participate as a tourist in each of the 12 marine research tourism ventures? (For each venture, please tick the appropriate box)
Very interested Possibly interested Not interested You would rather watch the television documentary
1. A coral spawning research and adventure trip on a tropical coral reef
2. A bottlenose dolphin education holiday on the southern Australian coastline
3. Volunteer at a penguin rescue centre on the southern Australian coastline
4. Survey coral reefs and help assess the impacts of climate change on coral reefs
5. Work with marine turtles and indigenous rangers in remote northern Australia
6. Biodiversity and habitat mapping in north Western Australia
7. Volunteer and train at an Australian whale and dolphin research institute
8. Day trip to the reef with some marine research as part of the attraction
9. Sail, volunteer and track blue whales in the Southern Ocean
10. A continuous sailing expedition to explore and help research the oceans of Australia
11. A submersible research expedition to Australia’s Bon Hommey undersea ridge
12. Research, education and adventure across the Whitsundays of Tropical Queensland
 
19. If you were choosing to travel on a marine research tourism venture, how would you rate the importance of the following features in terms of your choice of marine research tourism venture? (Please tick the appropriate boxes)

Not very important Somewhat important Important Very important
The importance of marine research program to the marine research community
Learning from the marine researchers
A high level of involvement in the marine research program
The high level of marine research training that you can receive
The high number of training days you can be involved with
The high level of skill and knowledge needed to participate
A high level of marine research education you can receive
The marine research technology or research facility that you can be involved with
The experience of the marine researchers who are undertaking the research
Your high level of involvement in conservation of marine wildlife or habitat
Not very important Somewhat important Important Very important
The destination (e.g. an island, a coral reef, the southern ocean, a sailing trip, a resort, etc.)
The opportunity to have fun
The main vessel (e.g. ship or boat) that is used for travel and research (if applicable)
The marine wildlife that is being researched
A high level of adventure found on the venture
The duration of the trip (including any time on a boat)
The high quality of the marine researchers who are undertaking the research
A high level of solitude, tranquillity, and closeness to nature whilst on the venture
A high level of social interaction with others on the venture
A high level of interaction with the local people
Not very important Somewhat important Important Very important
Avoiding sun burn, cold exposure and/or sea sickness
A high level of self sufficiency needed while on the venture
An opportunity to receive recognised marine research education and training
There is an offshore boating or sailing experience
The opportunity to scuba dive
The opportunity to explore marine phenomena and discover new things
Other
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
a. Destination (e.g. Costa Rica)
   
b. Company name (e.g. Norska ventures)
   
c. Type of marine research activity (e.g. whale watching, coral reef survey, turtle protection)
   
d. Year of trip (e.g. 1997)
   
 
21. If you are a marine researcher or marine research student, how interested would you be to have paid work as a marine researcher on each of the 12 ventures? (For each venture, please tick the appropriate box)



If you are not a marine researcher or marine research student, please go to last question.
Not interested Possibly interested Interested Very interested
1. A coral spawning research and adventure trip on a tropical coral reef
2. A bottlenose dolphin education holiday on the southern Australian coastline
3. Volunteer at a penguin rescue centre on the southern Australian coastline
4. Survey coral reefs and help assess the impacts of climate change on coral reefs
5. Work with marine turtles and indigenous rangers in remote northern Australia
6. Biodiversity and habitat mapping in north Western Australia
7. Volunteer and train at an Australian whale and dolphin research institute
8. Day trip to the reef with some marine research as part of the attraction
9. Sail, volunteer and track blue whales in the Southern Ocean
10. A continuous sailing expedition to explore and help research the oceans of Australia
11. A submersible research expedition to Australia’s Bon Hommey undersea ridge
12. Research, education and adventure across the Whitsundays of Tropical Queensland
 
 
 
   
 
 



Thank you for taking this survey.   All the very best to you!

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this survey.
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