Travel Information Needs

Many people need information to help them make decisions or solve problems. The purpose of this survey is to investigate the information needs of travellers with disabilities, long-term health problems or with reduced mobility in the United Kingdom.

Your participation in this study is highly valued whether you travel frequently or not. It would be greatly appreciated if you could spare a few moments to complete the following questions. All completed questionnaires will be treated as strictly anonymous and confidential. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the following researchers.

Thank you for your help.


1. During 2009, how many times did you travel, staying for at least 1 night outside your home, either for business or pleasure? (Please click on the most appropriate option)
I never travelled [Goto question 15] 1 - 3 times 4 - 7 times 8 - 10 times More than 10 times


2. Thinking specifically about the last time you travelled, either for business or pleasure, how many nights did you stay outside your home? (Please tick on the most appropriate option)
day trip 1 to 2 nights 3 to 4 nights 5 - 6 nights More than 6 nights


3. With reference to the last time you travelled, either for business or pleasure, what main mode of transport did you use? (Please tick on the most appropriate option)
Bus Train Coach Taxi Aeroplane Ferry Private Car Other


If 'other' please specify.

4. With reference to the last time you travelled, either for business or pleasure, with whom did you travel? (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Alone Family member Friends/Colleagues Other people with disabilities Social Workers/volunteers Other


If 'other' please specify

5. With reference to the last time you travelled, either for business or pleasure, what types of accommodation did you stay in? (Please click on as many as appropriate)
Luxury hotel/luxury apartment/luxury resort ( 4 or 5 star)
Standard hotel/motel/travel inn or apartment (below 4 star)
Rented house/self-service apartment/unit/holiday flat
Backpacker/visitor hostel
Own property (e.g. holiday house)
Friends or relatives property (no payment required)
Guest House/Bed and Breakfast
Other

 If 'other' please specify

6. With reference to the last time you travelled, either for business or pleasure, what was the main method used for booking transportation. (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Internet On-line Phone Travel agent Other


If 'other' please specify.

7. With reference to the last time you travelled, either for business or pleasure, what was the main method used for booking accommodation? (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Internet On-lin Phone Travel agent Other


If 'other' please specify.

8. Listed below are different types of travel related information which might be used to plan a trip away from home. Please rate how important each of the types of travel related information are to you when planning a trip away from home. (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Very unimportant Unimportant Neither important nor unimportant Important Very important
Information on transportant terminals (aeroplane, train, bus, ferry etc) and services and their accessibility.
Information on public transportation services (bus, metro, taxi etc.) in the destination and their accessibility, including contacts for more information/assistance.
Information on designated disabled parking in the destination
Accessibility map of the destination
Information on surrounding areas and their accessibility
Accessibility factsheet of the destination
Information on the general terrain of the destination
Information on road conditions( e.g. pavement, kerbs, audio and visual signals, signposted routes etc.) in the destination
Information on guided tours and their accessibility
Information on climate/weather of the destination
Information on air quality and any factors which may affect that at the destination
Information on public facilities (bank, post offices) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on shopping facilities at the destination and their accessibility
Information on eating facilities (restaurants, bars, cafes, etc.) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on accommodation facilities (hotels, B&B, guest houses, camp grounds etc.) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on conference/ exhibition facilities at the destination and their accessibility
Information on festivals/events at the destination and their accessibility
Information on location of public toilets at the destination and their accessibility
Information on tourist attractions (museums, galleries, theme parks, gardens, zoos, historical sites, beaches etc.) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on medical advice and contact details for hospitals had health centres
Contact details for equipment (wheelchair etc.) hire and related services
Contact details for local support groups
Contact details for other disability organisations/services
Information on emergency evacuation procedures
Information on disability-friendliness of the destination
Information on the destination's nightlife

9i. Which type of information is most important to you when you use accommodation facilities? (Please list up to five most important types of information)
1
2
3
4
5

 9ii. Which type of information is most important to you when you use eating facilities? (Please list up to five most important types of information)
1
2
3
4
5

 9iii. Which type of information is most important to you when you use tourist attractions (museums, galleries, gardens, zoos, theme parks, historic sites, beaches etc.)? Please list up to five most important types of information
1
2
3
4
5

 10. With reference to the last time you travelled, either for pleasure or business, please rate how satisfied you were with each of the following types of travel-related information based on a 5 point scale if 1 = Not at all satisfied and 5 = very satisfied. (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Not at all satisfied Unsatisfied Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied Satisfied Very satisfied
Information on transportant terminal (aeroplane, train bus ferry etc. ) and services and their accessibility
Information on public transportation services (bus, metro, taxi etc.) in the destination and their accessibility, including contacts for more information/assistance
Information on designated disabled parking in the destination
Accessibility map of the destination
Information on surrounding areas and their accessibility
Accessibility factsheet of the destination
Information on the general terrain of the destination
Information on road conditions (e.g. pavement, kerbs, audio and visual signals, signposted routes etc) in the destination
Information on guided tours and their accessibility
Information on climate/weather of the destination
Information on air quality and any factors which may affect that at the destination
Information on public facilities (bank, post offices) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on eating facilities (restaurants, bars, cafes etc.) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on accommodation facilities (hotels, B&B, guest houses, camp grounds etc.) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on conference/exhibition facilities at the destination and their accessibility
Information on festivals/events at the destination and their accessibility
Information on location of public toilets at the destination and their accessibility
Information on tourist attractions (museums, galleries, theme parks, gardens, zoos, historic sites, beaches etc.) at the destination and their accessibility
Information on medical advice and contact details for hospitals and health centres
Contact details for local support groups
Contact details for other disability organisations/services
Information on emergency evacuation procedures
Information on disability-friendliness of the destination
Information on the destination's nightlife

11. With reference to the last time you travelled, if you were not satisfied with any aspect of the travel related information you consulted please list reasons for your dissatisfaction.

12. Which of the following was the main source used to obtain travel-related information for your most recent trip? (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Website(s) specifically listing accessible accommodation (e.g. TourismforAll.org.uk)
National and/or local tourist board website(s) (e.g. enjoyengland.com)
Accessible holiday organisation (e.g. Vitalise, Livability)
Travel agent
Online reviews (e.g. Trip Advisor)
Guide book
Recommendation by friends/family
Disability associations/charities
Newspaper, magazine or travel brochure
Other

 If 'other' please specify

13. Please think about the information source you used the most to plan your most recent trip away from home. Please rate the level of your satisfaction with the following statements.
Not at all satisfied Unsatisfied Neither satisfied nor unsatsified Satisfied Very satisfied
The information provided was easy to understand.
The information provided was relevant.
The information provided was accurate.
The information provided was useful.
The information provided was comprehensive.
The information provided was easy to use.
The information provided was up-to-date.
The information provided was reliable.
The information was provided in a suitable format (e.g. large prints, tape, CD-ROM, DVD, braille, e-mail, plain language etc.) to me.
It provided a way of experience sharing.
It provided the opportunity to search information in a specific way to meet my needs.
It provided a way of exchanging opinions and/or comments.
It provided links to other information sources.

14. Please think about the information source you used the most to plan your most recent trip away from home. Please rate the strength of your agreement with the following statements.
Definitely disagree Disagree Neither disagree nor agree Agree Definitely agree
Overall I was satisfied with the information source I used.
All the information I needed was collected from this source and I had no need to consult other sources.
I was satisfied with the information source I used about accessibility when planning my travel
I will use the information source agin for my future travel planning.
I will recommend the information source to other people.

15. Please state you postcode

16. You are:
Female Male


17. Please indicate which age bank you fall into? (Please click on the the most appropriate option)
20 - 29
30 - 39
40 - 49
50 - 59
60 - 69
Over 70

 18. Please indicate which income band per month you fall into? (Please tick the most appropriate option)
Less than £1,000
£1,000 - £2,000
£2,001 - £3,000
£3,001 - £4,000
£4,001 - £5,000
More than £5,000

 19. Your education level? (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Less than secondary school
Less than high school
Some College/University
Graduated College/university
More than Post-graduate

 20. Your occupation? (Please click on the most appropriate option)
In paid employment
Retired
Self employed
Running a home
Seeking work
Student

 19i. If in paid employment or self employed, please specify your occupation:

21. You are: (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Single
Married
Separated
Divorced
Other

 22. Which of the following statements apply to you? (Please click on as many options that apply)
I have mobility impairment (wheelchair user)
I have mobility impairment (non-wheelchair user)
I am blind or partially sighted
I am deaf or hard of hearing
I have a learning disability
Other

 22a. If 'other' please specify

23. What is the level of severity of your disability, long-term health problem or reduced mobility? (Please click on the most appropriate option)
Low
Medium
High
Very high

 24. In your view, which of the following methods, if any, could improve the accessibility of travel and tourism for people with disabilities? (Please click on as many as appropriate)
The provision of more detailed information about accessibility, supplied by travel agents and tour operators
The provision of travel experiences from disabled people (e.g. Published in social networking sites)
The provision of more detailed accessibility information from tourism industry providers
Accessibility improvements led by public local and regional authorities
The use of mandatory national access standards in all tourist attractions, accommodation, restaurants and airports
The implementation of mandatory national level regulations or standards
Direct marketing of accessible offers to disabled and elderly tourists
More accessible public transport
None of the above would work
Other

 24a. If 'other' please specify

25. (Only applies to those who have never travelled during 2009.) If you did not travel during 2009, what was the main reason(s) for not travelling?



Thanks for your help!