ACCESSIBLE TOURISM SERVICE PROVIDER QUESTIONNAIRE- MAY 2011
SURVEY OF TOURISM SERVICE PROVIDERS
Request for tourism service providers to complete the attached questionnaire.
The ability of all people to have equal access to facilities and services is a high priority for Government. Towards this end, The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has initiated research into ACCESSIBLE TOURISM. This questionnaire is aimed at collecting information about this tourism sector that is currently poorly developed.
Tourism businesses that provide services to persons who experience any difficulties or limitations in travelling are targeted through this survey. These could be due to a number of causes, such as for example:
- Travelling with babies and small children
- Walking difficulties
- Sight difficulties
- Hearing difficulties
- Cognitive difficulties
- Language difficulties
If you are a tourism service provider that provides a service to persons who experiences any of the above, we would appreciate your participation and contribution by completing the attached questionnaire.
Thank you.
BUSINESS BACKGROUND
Q.1What sector of tourism or travel industry does your business operate in? (If more than one applies, please select the primary one)
Tour Operator
Travel Agency (Retail)
Travel Agency (Wholesale - inbound/outbound tours)
Information resources (Destination Marketing Organisation, Visitor Information Centre)
Tourism Attraction
Accommodation Provider (Hotel, B&B, Backpackers)
Food and Beverage Provider (Cafe, Restaurant etc.)
Transport (land, air, road, sea)
Meetings/ Conferences facilities and venues
Ancillary Services (Souvenir shops etc)
Other(Please specify in the space provided)
Q.2In which province(s) is your business located?
The Eastern Cape The Free State Gauteng
KwaZulu-NatalLimpopoMpumalanga
The Northern Cape North West The Western Cape
Q. 3What is the size of your business in terms of the following:
a) The total number of full time employees
b) The approximate number of clients/guests/customers that are handled PER YEAR?
Q.4Please indicate if you are TGCSA graded.
Yes No
Q.5If yes, please indicate your star grading.
1 star2 star3 star4 star5 star
Please indicate if other accreditation applies.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Q. 6Can you please identify the market you serve?
Mainly domestic touristsMainly international touristsBoth
Q. 7How importantis the accessible tourist market to your business?
HighMedium LowNot Important
Q. 8Of the following list of access dimensions, which one(s) is/are the most common ones that your business is confronted with? (Select as many responses as appropriate).
Mobility –guests requiring the use of a power wheelchair or scooter
Mobility –guests requiring the use of a manual wheelchair
Mobility – guests requiring the use of a walker, walking stick or other mobility aid
Mobility - no aid required by guests but mobility is limited, i.e. ability to cover a distance is limited
Blind –guests that are profoundly blind
Vision –guests that have difficulties seeing, or require the use of glasses
Deaf –guests that are profoundly deaf
Hearing –guests with difficulty hearing, or make use of a hearing aid
Cognitive –guests that have issues of speech, understanding or learning
Linguistic – guests that do not understand the local languages, dialects etc.
Psychological –guests that suffer from depression, bipolar/ manic-depressiveness
Lifecycle – guest travelling with babies and small children
Lifecycle - guests travelling with older persons
Other (Please specify in the space provided)
Q. 9 Does your business provide products or services for persons with the access dimensions identified above?
Yes No
Q.10If yes to Q. 9, to what extent does your business provide for these access dimensions?
100%70-100%50-70%30-50%10-30%
Less than 10%
Q.11If yes to Q.9, can you please select the appropriate options OR tell us what these are.
Ramps available to access all levels
Clear pathways
Audio visual aids
Adapted room
Large Print/Braille (brochures/menus,lift buttons etc)
Hand rails
Adapted bathrooms
Golf Cart
Playroom
Specialist staff
Wheelchairs/scooters/walking aids
Adapted vehicles
Sign language interpreter
Other (Please specify in the space provided)
Q.12What services are most in demand in your business?
Accessible accommodationAccessible transport/vehicles
Accessible guided toursWheelchairs/Other mobility aids
Assistant Other (Please specify in the space provided)
Q.13Is your business marketed as being accessible?
YesNo
Q.14Can your business cater for GROUPS that travel with similar access dimensions?
YesNo
Q. 15If yes to Q. 13, what group size can be accommodated?
Small (5-10)Medium (10-20)Large (20 +)
Q.16What percentage occupancy do you achieve in the adapted facilities that your business may have?
100%70-100%50-70%30-50%10-30%
Less than 10%
Q.17If you were to convert a standard facility/service into an accessible one, what is yourperception of the cost of conversion (an adapted room, restroom, walkway etc)?
High costsMedium costsLow costs
Q. 18 Do you consider your business as a specialist accessible tourism service provider?
YesNo
Q.19Do you have future plans to increase the levels of accessibility?
YesNo
If yes, please state what these may bein the space provided.
Q.20 Are you familiar with any accessibility standards for TOURISTS?
YesNo
Q.21How would you rate the priority that should be given to the following?
(1-low priority; 2- medium priority; 3-high priority)
123
Greater awareness of special needs requirements
among service providers and the public
Appropriate public sector infrastructure
(signalling systems, pavements etc)
Heightened awareness/promotion of
existing accessible facilities
Expansion of accessible tourist facilities
Improvements in quality of facilities and services
Introduction of national quality criteria and standards
Accessible /access friendly marketing and communication
Special business incentives for providing accessible tourism
Services
Other (Please specify and indicate rating)
Q.22In your view, what are the challenges facing your business regarding delivery of services to this market?
Perceived as a non-lucrative market
No marketing links in the supply chain
High cost of conversion (equipment, construction etc.)
Lack of information on travel behaviour and market potential
Stereotypical attitudes/behaviour from non-disabled guests
Other (Please specify in the space provided)
Q.23Are there other aspects related to ACCESSIBLE TOURISM that you would like to bring to our attention? If yes, please use the space provided.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
Please note that the answers to this questionnaire will remain confidential and anonymous. However, should you wish to provide your contact details, please do so in the space provided.
Instructions
1.Please complete all questions
2. Return the questionnaire to Renay Krishna ()
3.If you have any further questions regarding this project, please contact the following person:
Eugene De Beer: (Cell) 0827793821 ()
Office Address:37 Hunt Road
Glenwood
Durban
4001
Office No.: 031 2029673
Fax No.: 031 2029675
This survey is administered by Urban-Econ on behalf of The Department of Trade and Industry.
Page 1 of 9