Surveys to Stakeholders

In this post I document the surveys I have created to investigate my stakeholders’ opinions on various subjects related to my project.

Index:

If you have not yet visited Venice
For those who have visited Venice
Tourism in Venice (for Venetians)
First Intervention Feedback (for Venetians)
First Intervention Feedback (for tourists)
Travel experience (evolution of the project)
Intervention feedback advertisement video

If you have not yet visited Venice (07/04/2021)

This survey was aimed to see the perceptions that people who have never been to Venice may have of the city. It also enquires what sort of behaviours they would have if they were to visit it.

It gave an idea of what people are interested in and how I can shape my project around those interests.

My questions:

What would you expect from the city?
Do you have any negative preconceptions of the city?
Do you think Venice is more a: real city, tourist attraction, both?
Would you buy an affordable object from one of the numerous souvenir shops of the city?
Would you want to be guided in your discovery of the city by: (tour guide, an app, a printed copy, other, no guidance).
Would you want to discover hidden corners that tourists tend to walk past?
How long would you stay approximately?
Would you like to visit the city through interactive experiences?
Would you want to speak with some locals?

Some response examples:

Do you think Venice is more a: real city, tourist attraction, both?

Would you like to visit the city through interactive experiences?

Would you buy an affordable object from one of the numerous souvenir shops of the city?

For those who have visited Venice (07/04/2021)

This survey enquires on people’s previous Venice experiences. I wanted to see how they behaved to form a more accurate tourist profile in my mind.

My questions:

Did you enjoy your Venice experience?
Did you find the streets were too crowded?
Do you think you had an authentic experience of the city?
Did you try to stray from the tourist routes?
Did Venice seem to you like a real city or a tourist attraction?
Did you buy objects in one of the numerous souvenir shops?
Did you buy any artisanal artefacts or small boutique items?
Did you actively seek out cultural institutions to visit, if yes, did you find them too expensive?
Did you receive some kind of guidance during your stay? (tour guide, an app, a printed copy, other, no guidance).
How long was your stay?

Some response examples:

Did you receive some kind of guidance during your stay? (tour guide, an app, a printed copy, other, no guidance.

Did you buy any artisanal artefacts or small boutique items?

Tourism in Venice (for Venetians) (22/04/2021)

Here, I wanted to get locals’ opinions on tourism and on some ways it could be improved and controlled.

My questions:

Do think that the disadvantages of mass tourism surpass its benefits?
Do you think that Venetian culture is threatened by mass tourism?
Do you think that a more regulated, qualitative type of tourism could be enough to sustain the city?
Do you think that tourists visiting less mainstream parts of the city could help unclog popular trails and make certain parts of the city more breathable?
Would you feel uncomfortable if tourists started exploring more quiet areas of the city?
Do you think enough tourists engage with cultural institutions such as museums and galleries?
Do you think it would be beneficial if (day tourists) engaged more with the city’s cultural institutions?
Do you think enough tourists spend money in artisanal shops and small boutiques?

Some response examples:

Do think that the disadvantages of mass tourism surpass its benefits?

Do you think that a more regulated, qualitative type of tourism could be enough to sustain the city?

Do you think enough tourists engage with cultural institutions such as museums and galleries?

First intervention Feedback (for Venetians) (27/05/2021)

This is some of the feedback I have collected from some Venetian stakeholders regarding my first intervention, which is documented in detail here.

My questions:

Did the message of this project was clearly conveyed through this website?
Do you like the idea that some tourists would explore less mainstream/more private areas of the city?
Do you think this could be a way of having a positive impact on the issue of unprofitable mass tourism?
Did you find the story of the ghost engaging?
Do you agree that tourists should get a more authentic experience of Venice?
If yes, do you think that getting Venetians involved in the game could improve local-tourist relations?
Which form should this tour take?
Do you think that using technology would take away from the overall experience?
Additional feedback

Some response examples:

Do you think this could be a way of having a positive impact on the issue of unprofitable mass tourism?

Do you agree that tourists should get a more authentic experience of Venice?

If yes, do you think that getting Venetians involved in the game could improve local-tourist relations?

Additional written feedback examples:

“A big issue is making people that would otherwise be classified as mass tourists be interested in this other activity rather than taking selfies on bridges”

“The use of technology today is targeting and restricting the audience.”

Intervention Feedback (for tourists) (11/06/2021)

This is some of the feedback I have collected from tourist stakeholders regarding my first intervention.

My questions:

Was the message of this project clearly conveyed through this website?
Are you familiar with a similar game-based tour experience?
Do you think that the issue that the project is trying to tackle is an important one?
Would you want to try this gamified tour if you were to visit Venice?
Did you find the story of the ghost engaging?
Would you miss not getting to see the more mainstream landmarks in Venice, such as Saint Mark’s Square?
Is paying the entrance to a museum and a church in order to play the game problematic?
Which should be the vessel for this tour?
Do you think that using technology would take away from the overall experience?
Any additional feedback?

Some response examples:

Did you find the story of the ghost engaging?

Do you think that the issue that the project is trying to tackle is an important one?

Would you miss not getting to see the more mainstream landmarks in Venice, such as Saint Mark’s Square?

Additional written feedback examples:

“The story was interesting, but I would like to have a little bit more to tell me why the places listed on the tour are important for the story. I’d like to be excited to go there, not just because they’re beautiful but also because I want to hear more of the story, I want to feel like a detective! How are Knights related to the story? Are we the knights? Are there ghostly knights in the story? I think it would also help me feel more connected with the city if the story was in some way related to the history of the place.”

“App can be fun and interactive but I also like getting lost in cities without someone telling me what to do or where to go… “

“With regards to the technology, it feels like an app would be best for the project but I feel a printed flyer would also help. I would feel a bit uncomfortable about walking around with my phone out for fear of having it stolen.”

Travel experience (08/07/2021)

Since my project is evolving and becoming more focused I created this survey to gather stakeholders’s opinions on these slightly different concepts that I am moving towards.

I found that more or less half of the participants preferred a planned tourist experience while the other half gravitated towards a more carefree/adventurous experience. It is that 50% that my project will mostly appeal to.

Moreover, most participants agreed that they did not learn enough about host locations, which makes them appreciate the idea of getting unsolicited history facts while exploring, and being pointed out more authentic experiences such as artisans shops. These opinions go the direction of my project, which is encouraging.

My questions:

Do you sometimes feel unsure about what to do when you travel (which landmarks, museums etc you should see)?
When travelling do you enjoy setting out without a plan and hope to stumble upon things of interest?
When you travel do you sometimes feel like you do not learn enough about the history and culture of the visited location?
Would you like to have a way of getting history facts about specific zones near you while visiting a travel location?
Would you like to be pointed out authentic experiences such as artisan shops or museums near you without having to actively seek them out when you travel?

Some response examples:

When travelling do you enjoy setting out without a plan and hope to stumble upon things of interest?

When you travel do you sometimes feel like you do not learn enough about the history and culture of the visited location?

Would you like to have a way of getting history facts about specific zones near you while visiting a travel location?

Intervention feedback advertisement video (18/08/2021)

This is the feedback I have collected on the subject of my intervention (advertisement video for the app, which can be read about in detail here).

I was glad to see that the participants mostly understood what the video was advertising. When I asked them to write what they believed the app aims to offer, many of them came up with very accurate decisions. Most participants agreed that the selling point of the app was clear, that it would enhance the tourist experience and that most of them would use it when travelling.

My questions:

What do you think this advert was advertising?
Was the unique selling point of the app clear?
Is this something you would use while travelling?
Do you think this could enhance the tourist experience?
Are you familiar with a similar app?
Additional feedback

Some response examples:

Was the unique selling point of the app clear?

Is this something you would use while travelling?

Do you think this could enhance the tourist experience?

Recommended tour and map design survey (28/09/2021)

This survey is part of the intervention Recommended tour and map design, which is explored in more detail here.

I basically created three images of the app to get stakeholders’ feedback on map design (an important feature of the app), and whether they would gravitated towards a “Recommended tour” option rather than choosing a the more free and explorative experience that I am trying to promote.

The first image gives participants context and explains what is expected of them. In the second image, they just had to choose one of the two options.