Moray 2003 survey

 1.      This survey was conducted amongst all competitors attending the 2003 Scottish 6-Day Orienteering Event at Moray from 27 July - 2 August. The survey questionnaire was sent with the event programme to the contact given with each entry, approximately 1300 questionnaires in the total. Additional questionnaires were available at the event. A total of 641 forms were returned, representing approximately half of event participants. The response covered 1578 orienteers (pre-entered, age class courses) plus 397 non-orienteers. (Colour-coded/wayfarer participants are included in the non-orienteers total.) Given the total entry of 3023, this indicates a total number of approximately 3630 people at Moray 2003.

2.      The breakdown of the total entry and the survey return by nationality was as follows:

Nationality

Total entry

Survey return

Scotland

561 19%

292 19%

Rest of UK

1917 63%

1098 70%

England

Wales

Northern Ireland

1748

61

56

1058

29

11

Scandinavia

202 7%

77 5%

Denmark

Finland

Norway

Sweden

37

12

75

78

22

11

37

7

Rest of Europe

189 6%

58 4%

Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

France

Germany

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Slovenia

Switzerland

Ukraine

15

8

6

19

28

47

6

2

2

1

40

15

3

6

0

10

9

16

4

0

0

0

8

0

Rest of the world

93 3%

53 3%

Australia

Canada

Japan

New Zealand

USA

17

21

7

17

31

8

21

0

6

18

Unspecified

61 2%

0 0%

TOTAL

3023 100%

1578 100%

These figures indicate that the survey was under-representative of non-English-speaking participants. Allowance has been made for this in calculating the total economic impact of the event from the survey results.

3.      Number of previous 6 day events attended: 

Nationality

Average number of events

Scotland

6

Rest of UK

6

Scandinavia

1

Rest of Europe

2

Rest of world

1

Total

5

 4.      Customer satisfaction: How would you rate Moray03? 

Nationality

Excellent (%)

Good (%)

Satisfactory (%)

Poor (%)

Scotland

80

20

0

0

Rest of UK

88

12

0

0

Scandinavia

56

44

0

0

Rest of Europe

68

24

8

0

Rest of world

88

12

0

0

TOTAL

84

16

0

0

 There were no specific comments or criticisms in the 8% 'satisfactory' returns.

 

5.      Do you intend to come to Deeside05? 

Nationality

Yes (%)

Maybe (%)

No (%)

Scotland

99

1

0

Rest of UK

91

7

2

Scandinavia

46

33

21

Rest of Europe

62

21

17

Rest of world

38

33

29

TOTAL

88

8

4

 

6.      Total Spending 

Nationality

Average total spending per person (£)

Scotland

140

Rest of UK

180

Scandinavia

200

Rest of Europe

150

Rest of world

270

TOTAL

180

 Grossed up for the event as a whole, this gives a total spend of approximately £690,000, which breaks down as follows: 

Expenditure category

£

Accommodation

300,000

Travel

75,000

Meals

190,000

Tourist activities

50,000

Unspecified*

75,000

TOTAL

690,000

 *In some survey returns the reported expenditure by category summed to less than the reported total expenditure.

 

7. Accommodation 

Accommodation type

Number of bookings

Percentage

Hotel

23

4

B&B

61

10

Self-catering

318

50

Camping/caravan

82

13

Own/friend's home

46

7

Youth hostel

5

1

Event campsite

106

17

TOTAL

641

100

 Average spending on accommodation per person was £80 (this includes those staying at the event campsite and at their own or friends' homes). Grossed up this gives a total spend on accommodation for the event of approximately £300,000. Average stay in the accommodation was 7 days (this included some who stayed for less than the full week and some who spent more than one week in Moray).

 

8. Holidays elsewhere in Scotland

240 respondents holidayed elsewhere in Scotland before or after Moray. This represents 37% of the survey return. The average stay was 6 days. All parts of Scotland were covered, including a number who travelled on to Deeside after Moray (to look at the forests or for accommodation?)

 

9. Travel 

 

Travel to Scotland (%)

Travel during event (%)

Air

10

0

Sea

3

0

Train

2

0

Own car

84

85

Hire car

8

16

Friend's car

0

3

Bike

0

6

Unspecified

3

1

Totals add to more than 100% as more than one form of transport may have been used.

Average spending per person on local travel was £19. This gives an estimated total spend for the week on travel of approx £75,000.

 

10. Meals 

 

All meals (%)

Some meals (%)

Event centre

5

13

Restaurants

17

42

Self-cater

35

44

Unspecified

2

 

Average spending per person on meals was £50, giving an estimated total spend for the week of £190,000.

 

11. Non-orienteers 

170 returns reported non-orienteers in their party (27% of the total return). These covered the full age range and we can assume these were young children, non-orienteering partners and grandparents. Of these 86% came to the orienteering events and 88% of these said they found enough to do. Those that did not fell in the age range 26 - 72, plus a few very young children. Suggestions made for extra activities included a 'coffee-shop' area with seating, a creche and play activities for children. I estimate that a total of around 600 non-orienteers came to the event. EOD statistics show that 255 people entered these courses and a large number of children ran the string courses.

 

12. Rest day activities 

The following was reported:

Visit local attractions 58%

Touring 22%

Rest 11%

Walking 10%

Cycling 6%

Park Race 5%

Outdoor activities (incl swimming) 4%

Mountain Bike O 4%

Golf 4%

Beaches 3%

Training 3%

 

13. Tourist activities 

Heritage (castles, historic sites etc) 55%

Tourist/family attractions (Landmark etc) 30%

Beaches 23%

Distilleries 19%

Wildlife (dolphins, ospreys etc) 16%

Outdoor activities (incl swimming, walking, cycling) 14%

Shopping 6%

Golf 6%

Gardens 3%

 

An average of £13 per person was spent on tourist activities. Total estimated spend for the week was £50,000.

 

14. Event format

96% of respondents stated that they were happy with the format of the event, although 15% said they would like the event to include one or two short races. This response covered the entire age range for both men and women. (However most survey returns covered several people and it is not known whether all of these would want a short race.)

 

15. Park O, Mountain Bike-O, Trail-O

Interest for these events was as follows:

Park O 22%

Mountain Bike O 24%

Trail O 9%

(130 people took part in the park race in Forres.) Some people said that having to enter in advance for the Park-O and MTB-O put them off and they might have taken part had it been EOD.

 

 

16. General comments 

POSITIVE 

1.                  Punching starts for split start parents.

2.                  Quantity and cleanliness of toilets (at events and at campsite).

3.                  Short distances to events.

4.                  Car parking and assembly close together.

5.                  Variety of terrain.

6.                  Excellent string courses.

7.                  Prizes for children.

 

NEGATIVE 

1.                  Showers - too hot/too cold, hours of availability too restricted, no showers at campsite.

2.                  Cost of EOD courses too high (especially for children). W/M novice courses too hard, should be EOD colour coded. Maps sometimes ran out. Registration closed too early.

3.                  Not possible for many to attend prize-giving and ceilidh because their accommodation booking ended on Saturday/they had to set off home.

4.                  Day 6 area poor; save the best area for the last day.

5.