Since 1982, ETC Institute has conducted nearly 100 visitor surveys for Departments of Transportation, Chambers of Commerce, Convention
and Visitors Bureaus, Airports, and other organizations.
The data gathered has been used to plan transportation improvements at visitor attractions, develop economic projects, and formulated
marketing campaigns. A brief description of some of the projects that have been completed by ETC Institute during the past five years
is provided below.
- Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, Visitor Survey. ETC Institute conducted a survey of recreational visitors to the Lake of the Ozarks.
The purpose of the survey was to better understand travel behavior of visitors at one of the State of Missouri’s top visitor attractions.
Surveys were administered to at stores, hotels, restaurants, and marinas.
- Branson, Missouri, Visitor and Employee Survey. ETC Institute administered a visitor and employee travel surveys for the Branson
Chamber of Commerce and the Missouri Department of Transportation. The results of the survey were used to plan transportation improvements
for nation’s top tourist destinations. The surveys were administered at hotels, shopping areas, employment centers, and other attractions.
- St. Charles, Missouri, Visitor Survey. ETC Institute conducted a visitor survey for the Greater St. Charles (Missouri) Convention
and Visitors Bureau, which involved the administration of surveys to leisure visitors, sporting event attendees, business travelers,
and group tour participants.
- Independence, Missouri, Visitor Survey. ETC Institute conducted a visitor Survey for the City of Independence (Missouri) Department
of Tourism, which involved the administration of surveys to leisure visitors, sporting event attendees, business travelers, and group
tour participants. The City of Independence is home to the Truman Presidential Library and is the world headquarters for Reformed
Church of the Latter Day Saints.
- Olathe, Kansas, Visitor Survey. ETC Institute administered a visitor Survey for the Olathe (Kansas) Convention and Visitors Bureau,
which involved the administration of surveys to which involved the administration of surveys to leisure visitors, sporting event attendees,
business travelers, and group tour participants.
- Kansas City International Airport Passenger Survey. ETC Institute conducted a survey of airport passengers at Kansas City International Airport for
the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. The survey was used to gather information about the travel behavior of visitors to the
region in order to identify the need for parking and public transit improvements at the region’s primary airport.
- Kansas City, Missouri, Visitor Survey. ETC Institute designed and administered a visitor survey for the Convention and Visitors Bureau
of Greater Kansas City, which involved the administration of surveys to leisure visitors, sporting event attendees, business travelers,
and group tour participants.
- NAIA Basketball Tournament Visitor Survey. ETC Institute conducted a survey of visitors to the National Basketball Tournament for
the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The data was used to measure the economic impact of the tournament.
- State of Kansas Travel Behavior Survey. ETC Instituted conduct a survey of Kansas residents to determine the origins and destination
of in-state travel by Kansas Residents. The survey was conducted for the Kansas Division of Tourism through a survey that was funded
by the Kansas Department of Transportation.
- Tucson, Arizona, Visitor Survey. ETC Institute conducted a survey of persons who are temporary residents of the Tucson area and users
of golf course facilities in the Tucson area on behalf of the City of Tucson and Pima County.
- Springfield/Branson Airport Survey. ETC Institute conducted a survey of airline passengers a the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport
in Springfield, Missouri for the Missouri Department of Transportation. The purpose of the survey was to gather travel related dated
from visitors to the Branson area who were arriving in the region on commercial airlines. The results of the survey were used to
assess the feasibility of a commuter and/or light rail corridor between the airport and major attractions in Branson.
- Kansas City Regional Airports Survey. ETC Institute conducted a survey of airplane pilots in the Kansas City metropolitan area to
assess the impact the closure of one of the region’s airports would have on private and commercial airport activities in the region.
The survey was conducted for Mid America Regional Council, the MPO for greater Kansas City.
- Lawrence, Kansas, Visitor Survey. ETC Institute designed and administered a visitor survey for the Convention and Visitors Bureau
of Lawrence, Kansas. The project involved the administration of surveys to leisure visitors, sporting event attendees, business travelers,
and group tour participants to the City of Lawrence, Kansas, which is the location of the University of Kansas.
ETC Institute designed and administered as survey to visitors at attractions in the metropolitan , area. The purpose of the survey
was to provide initial market demand guidance in support of a transportation market demand study for the National Park Service (NPS)
National Capital Region (NCR). The survey results will also be used to assist in the further development of conceptual transportation
alternatives and market analysis of alternatives.
The survey instrument was designed through a collaborative process that involved both internal and external peer review. The research
team split the survey into two parts. Part I was designed to gather information about visitor profiles and to assess the need that
visitors have for various transportation services that could be offered. Part II was designed to gather more detailed travel information.
The research team administered the survey during the spring and summer of 2003.
- Part I (Visitor Profile/Perceptions of Transportation). Respondents completed the survey instrument for Part I in the presence of
a survey administrator. Although the survey was designed to be self-administered, survey administrators from ETC Institute administered
the survey orally to persons who could not read English or were not capable of completing the survey due to a physical limitation.
The survey administrator collected the survey from respondents once he/she had completed the survey. Respondents were assured that
the information they provided would be kept completely confidential.
- Part II: Mail-Back Travel Log. Once the respondent has completed Instrument I, the survey administrator asked the respondent to
complete a Travel Log to record the locations that the person visited during the stay in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.
The survey administrator explained how to complete the Travel Log, provided the respondent with written instructions, and asked the
respondent if he/she had any questions. The respondent was given a postage-paid envelope that they can use to return the survey to
ETC Institute after their trip.
The survey was administered at a total of 23 different locations throughout the metropolitan , area, including the following:
...helping organizations make better decisions since 1982.
ETC Institute
Vistor Survey Experience
-American History Museum
-Arlington National Cemetery
-C & O Canal
-FDR Memorial
-Ford Theater
-Fredrick Douglas House
-Georgetown
-Holocaust Museum
-International Spy Museum
-Iwo Jima Memorial
-Jefferson Memorial
-Union Station
-Lincoln Memorial
-Mount Vernon -Museum of America History
-National Air & Space Museum
-National History Museum
-National Postal Museum
-National Zoo
-Natural History Museum
-Tidal Basin Recreation Area
-Washington Monument
-White House Visitor’s Center
