APPENDIX A. ONLINE SURVEY INSTRUMENT
Welcome to the Nature Tourism Web site survey research project Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions.
Questions 1 through 11 are about the business that is associated with the nature tourism Web site that was found on the Internet (Identified on the e-mail you received).
1. Which of the following terms best describes the business that is associated with this Web site (Check only one)?
Bed and Breakfast Working ranch Working ranch and nature retreat Working guest ranch Dude ranch Farm with agritourism activities Nature retreat Eco-tourism business Rafting/canoeing/kayaking outfitter Recreational guide service Fishing outfitter Tour agency Other (Please specify)
2. What is the location of the nature tourism business associated with this Web site?
Zip code City State
3. How long has the nature tourism business associated with this Web site been in business?
3 months 6 months 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-5 years 5-10 years More than 10 years
4. Why was this nature tourism business started? (Check all that apply)
Needed more income Wanted to diversify an existing business and nature tourism complimented that business Previously interested in these activities and wanted to start a business Other (Please specify)
5. Is there a written business plan for your nature tourism business?
Yes No Don't know
6. Is there a way to determine how customers find out about your nature tourism business? Yes No Don't know
6a. If Yes to question 6, how is this determined? Internet tracking Mail-in or On-site customer survey Informal conversation with customers Other (Please specify)
7. How many people are on staff in your nature tourism business? (include full-time and part-time) 1 2-3 4-6 7-10 More than 10
8. Are you satisfied with the size of your nature tourism business? Strongly yes Yes Neutral No Strongly no
9. What is your role with this nature tourism business? Sole owner Joint owner Manager Employee/owner representative Webmaster Other (Please specify)
10. Please estimate what portion of the gross income of the total business comes from the nature tourism activities. Less than 10% Between 10% and 25% Between 25% and 50% Between 50% and 75% Greater than 75%
11. What kind of nature tourism activities are promoted at this Web site (check all that apply)?
Questions 12 through 16 are about your nature tourism Web site and whether you conduct visitor surveys.
12. What is the primary purpose of your nature tourism Web site? Marketing Provide information to customers and others Provide online registration for customers Other (Please specify)
13. Do you know what company is hosting the Web site? Yes No
13a. If Yes to question 13, please provide the following information.
14. How long has this nature tourism business had a Web site? Less than 3 months 3 to 6 months 6 months to 1 year 1 to 2 years 2 to 3 years More than 3 years
15. Are visitors asked to complete a survey when they visit your Web site? Yes No
16. Do you have visitors complete a survey after they visit the “actual-physical” nature tourism business? Yes No
Questions 17 through 21 are about the development of the nature tourism Web site.
17. What were the reasons for developing the nature tourism Web site? (Check all that apply) Web sites are a cost effective way to promote the business The Internet is important for employees of this business so it was a natural thing to do for the business The Web site is the best way to promote this business Other (Please specify)
18. Are you (or someone employed by the business) knowledgeable about Web site design and development? Yes No
19. Who developed the Web site? (Check only one) I did A fellow employee A personal friend A friend of the business A Web development company A business acquaintance I found a Web developer in my home town A friend recommended a Web development company An organization promoting tourism helped develop the Web site Other
20. Did you (or someone in the organization) conduct research using the Internet to design or develop this Web site? Yes No Don't know20a. If Yes to question 20, estimate how much time was spent? Less than 10 hours 10 to 20 hours 21 to 50 hours 51 to 100 hours 101 to 150 hours 151 to 200 hours More than 200 hours Don't know
21. If you (or someone in your organization) did not design the Web site, did you tell the Web developer specifically what you wanted on the Web site? Yes No
Questions 22 through 27 are about how well the Web site is performing and if you are satisfied with it.
22. Are you satisfied with the Web site overall? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
23. Has developing a Web site for your nature tourism business fulfilled your expectations? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
24. Has the Web site helped your business grow? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
24a. If No to question 24, do you think it will help your business grow in the future? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
25. Has the Web site been a cost effective way to promote your business? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
26. Do you have a specific vision (your overall goals for the future) for this Web site? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
27. Have you had problems revising and updating this Web site? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
Questions 28 - 29 are about whether depicting a particular “place” was important for designing this nature tourism Web site.28. When this Web site was developed, was a specific "place" depicted, (e.g. such as where the nature tourism activity is located)?
Yes No
29. Do you think including “place-related” information enhances the effectiveness of this Web site? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
Questions 30 through 36 ask if you feel you are part of a nature tourism community or association, either on the Internet or in the "real" world.
30. Has the Internet (email and world wide web) created a nature tourism community/association that you are a part of? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
If Yes to question 30, please answer questions 31a through 31e.
31a. Can you please provide the name of this community/association?
31b. Is this community associated with a specific location (e.g. region, state, country)? Yes No
If Yes to 31b, please identify where
31c. Do you participate in this community/association by using the Internet (email or other methods)? Yes No
If Yes to Question 31c, how often do you participate? Once a week Once a month Four times per year Two times per year Once per year Irregularly/Other Don't know
31d. Do you participate in this community/association in any other way than using the computer? (Check all that apply) Yes, I have phone conversations with other members Yes, the community members get together at meetings or gatherings Yes, the members of the community/association have formal meetings Yes, through written correspondence No
31e. Is this community/association important to you? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
32. If you are not part of a community/association on the Internet, would you like to be? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
33. Are you a part of a nature tourism community/association outside of the Internet? Yes No33a. If Yes to question 33, how often do you participate? Once a week Once a month Four times per year Two times per year Once per year Irregularly/Other Don't know
33b. How do you communicate with members of this community/association? (Check all that apply) I use the telephone I attend informal meetings or gatherings The community/association has formal meetings Through written correspondence Other (Please specify)
34. How often do you use (email) to communicate with people in the nature tourism industry? Several times per day Daily Weekly Monthly Seldom Never Not sure
35. How often do you use information that is available on the Internet for your work with this nature tourism business? Several times per day Daily Weekly Monthly Seldom Never Not sure
35a. If Never to question 35, are you curious about what information is available to assist nature tourism businesses on the Internet? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
36. Would you be interested in a Web site designed to assist or inform nature tourism organizations and businesses? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
Questions 37 through 42 are about your personal experience with, and perceptions of, the Internet.
37. How often do you use the Internet for personal reasons? Several times per day Daily Weekly Monthly Seldom Never Not sure
38. How often do you use the Internet for business reasons? Several times per day Daily Weekly Monthly Seldom Never Not sure
39. Would information about Web site development be useful to you? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
40. What do you expect to happen with the Internet? To grow tremedously To grow moderately To stay the same To become less important
41. Do you think the Internet is a good thing? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
42. Are you concerned about security on the Internet? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
Items 43 through 51 are about how you think your Web site should be changed, two questions about Web site maintenance, and three concluding requests.
43. Would you like to redesign your nature tourism Web site? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
44. Would you like to add new features to your Web site? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
45. Do you want to expand the use of the Web site for other purposes? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No
46. Do you intend to keep this Web site on-line? Strongly Yes Yes Neutral No Strongly No47. How much does it cost to maintain this Web site on a monthly basis? Less than $10 $10 - $50 $51 - $100 $101 - $250 $251 - $500 $501 - $1000 More than $100048. Who maintains your Web site? I do A fellow employee A personal friend A friend of the business A Web development company A business acquaintance A Web developer in my home town A Web development company recommended by a friend An organization promoting tourism Other 49. Would you be willing to participate in a short telephone interview about your responses to this survey? If Yes please provide a contact telephone number in the comment section for Question 51. Yes No
50. Would you be interested in receiving the results of this researchIf Yes please provide a contact email address in the comment section for Question 51. Yes No51. If there are any additional comments that you would like to make, please type them in the space provided.