Maine Office of Tourism Mid- Coast Presenta6on Prepared by November 1, 2011 1
Introduction and Methodology
Introduc6on The Maine Office of Tourism has commissioned DPA to conduct a visitor research program designed to provide informaaon on tourism acavity in Maine and explore the moavaaons of visitors. This research program was designed to: Profile Maine visitors in demographic terms as well as in their travel paierns; Explore percepaons of Maine among visitors; Understand why some travelers choose to visit Maine; Describe both seasonal and regional visitaaon paierns of Maine visitors; Explore what Maine visitors like and dislike about the locaaons in Maine they have visited; and EsAmate levels of spending in Maine by residents and non- resident visitors. 3
Visitor Data Collec6on Research program occurs online on an ongoing basis, constantly asking travelers where they have visited in the last four weeks. We gather data: NaAonally through an omnibus study of U.S. residents Regionally among overnight travelers residing in Maine s core adverasing markets (New England, NJ, NY, PA, DE, MD, DC, and Eastern Canada) who have taken a trip to Maine in the last four weeks. Regionally among day travelers living within a 100- mile radius of Maine s borders who have traveled to Maine within the last four weeks on a trip of at least 50 miles that is outside of their usual rouane. 4
Data Collec6on Methodology The Maine Office of Tourism Visitor Research Program is conducted online, with survey paracipants recruited from the erewards naaonal online panel. InformaAon is gathered using three main surveys on an ongoing basis: Regional Travel Survey Includes travelers living in New England, NJ, NY, PA, DE, MD, DC, and Eastern Canada; Respondents are screened to see if they have taken an overnight trip to Maine in the past four weeks. If they have, they are asked to complete the Maine Overnight Visitors Survey. Maine Day Visitor Survey Includes travelers living within Maine or within a 100- mile radius of Maine s borders who have taken a day trip in Maine that is at least 50 miles from home within the past four weeks. Na6onal Omnibus Survey Includes a naaonally balanced sample of US residents; and Used to determine the incidence of travel naaonwide and Maine s share of that travel. Adver6sing Effec6veness Survey Samples residents of key geographies targeted by the Maine Office of Tourism adverasing campaign. Used to measure the awareness of, appeal of, and moavaaons from Maine Tourism print and television ads. 5
Research Methodology Insights Share of Travel Market Visita6on Es6mates Spending Es6mates Traveler Profiles Maine Imagery Ad Awareness & Impact Data CollecAon Na6onal Omnibus Study Overnight Visita6on Survey Day Visita6on Survey Ad Effec6veness Survey 6
Survey Content Regional Travel Survey Overnight trip planning: timeframe, information channels used, specific information sources, visitmaine.com usage and satisfaction, Maine Invites You usage Overnight trip logistics: primary/secondary destination, travel party, transportation, accommodations Overnight trip profile: primary purpose, activities conducted, category spending, towns visited, Maine Visitor Center usage Overnight trip evaluation: rating of Maine compared to other destinations, trip highlight, what could have been better on the trip, likelihood to return, likelihood to recommend, descriptions of Maine Maine Day Visitor Survey Day trip logistics: primary destination, travel party, transportation Day trip profile: primary purpose, activities conducted, category spending, towns visited, Maine Visitor Center usage Day trip evaluation: rating of Maine compared to other destinations, trip highlight, what could have been better on the trip, likelihood to return, likelihood to recommend, descriptions of Maine 7
Survey Content National Omnibus Survey Number of U.S. trips taken in the past four weeks by trip type Destination of trips by trip type Advertising Effectiveness Survey Top-of-mind Northeastern U.S. leisure destinations Attitudes towards travel States visited, states likely to visit Unaided tourism advertising awareness Aided print & television ad recall Aided print & television ad appeal Aided print & television ad motivations Intentions based on advertisements 8
Regional Insights: Mid-Coast
Overnight Leisure Visitor Demographics: Mid- Coast The typical overnight leisure visitor to the Mid- Coast remains a highly educated, relaavely affluent, married person in their mid- foraes. This profile has changed liile from 2008 to the same period in 2009. The one excepaon is that the average household income of this visitor saw a staasacally significant year- over- year increase from 2008 to 2009. 2008 (Base=215) 2009 (Base=187) Mean Age 47.5 45.4 < 35 27% 26% 35-44 12% 24% 45-54 19% 17% 55 + 42% 33% Mean Income $101,300 $113,000 < $50,000 13% 15% $50,000 - $99,000 38% 28% $100,000 + 40% 41% Female 44% 39% College Degree or Higher 81% 80% Married 64% 65% Employed Full Time 56% 68% 2009 Annual Report notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level 10
Overnight Leisure Visitor Residence: Mid- Coast Consistent with 2008, the largest percentage of overnight leisure visitors to the Mid- Coast are from MassachuseIs or New York, each with just under one- fijh of these visitors. InteresAngly, these states are followed by Washington D.C. and New Jersey, both of which saw staasacally significant year- over- year increases in the percentage of overnight leisure visitors to the Mid- Coast from these states. Base: People who Live in New England, NJ, NY, PA, DE, MD, DC, and Eastern Canada 2009 Annual Report Massachusetts 19% 20% Maryland 5% 8% New York 17% 17% Ontario 4% 7% Washington D.C. New Jersey Maine 0% 3% 9% 9% 7% 12% Vermont Quebec 3% 1% 2% 1% Connecticut 8% 13% New Brunswick 2% 2% New Hampshire 7% 5% Rhode Island 2% 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 0% 10% 20% 30% State/Province of residence. 2008 (Base=215) 2009 (Base=187) notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level 11
Primary Purpose of Overnight Leisure Trips: Mid- Coast Unlike some of the other regions of Maine which have a single dominant primary trip purpose, there are several primary trip purposes that bring overnight leisure visitors to the Mid- Coast. For example, just under one- third of this group reported that they visit the region for outdoor recreaaon, while one- quarter said that they went to the Mid- Coast for touring. It s also worth noang the significant increase in the Other response. This is likely a funcaon of removing the Rest & RelaxaAon answer opaon in 2009, which generated more than half of the responses for this region among these travelers in 2008. Primary Purpose of Overnight Leisure Trips 2009 Annual Report Rest & Relaxation NA 55% Please Note: Rest & RelaxaLon was not included in the 2009 survey. This helps to explain the significant year- over- year increases in other primary purpose categories on this chart. Outdoor Recreation Touring Special Event Cultural/Heritage Tourism 3% 9% 8% 8% 7% 13% 24% 30% Shopping Other 6% 4% 8% 25% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 2008 (Base=215) 2009 (Base=187) Regional Q7. What was the primary purpose of your most recent leisure trip in Maine? 12 notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level
100% Overnight Leisure Trip Ac6vi6es: Mid- Coast Concurrent with the variety of primary trip purposes among overnight leisure visitors to the Mid- Coast, the chart below illustrates how there are several trip acaviaes that these visitors engage in during their visits. For example, outdoor recreaaon, shopping, sightseeing, resang, and enjoying the views were cited by around half or more of overnight visitors to this region as acaviaes that they conducted during their trip to the Mid- Coast. Top Trip Ac6vi6es 2009 Annual Report 80% 60% 56% 67% 68% 61% 52% 52% 67% 50% 58% 47% 40% 38% 38% 35% 20% 26% 22% 23% 23% 23% 18% 20% 0% Outdoor activities (NET) Shopping (NET) Sightseeing Resting, relaxing Enjoying the views Driving for pleasure Searching for local cuisine Visiting historic sites / museums NA Trying to find best lobster roll Exploring State and National parks Wildlife viewing / bird watching 2008 (Base=215) 2009 (Base=187) Regional Q32. In which of the following aclviles did you parlcipate during this trip? (Please check all that apply) 13 notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level
Overnight Leisure Visitor Towns & Ci6es Visited: Mid- Coast 2009 Annual Report Boothbay Harbor Within the region you visited, what specific towns or ci6es did you visit? Percent of visitors to region 33% 34% Bath Boothbay 18% 24% 28% 27% Camden Brunswick Wiscasset Rockport 22% 22% 21% 20% 21% 18% 22% 28% Rockland 17% 23% Damariscotta Pemaquid 13% 12% 11% 9% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2008 (Base=215) 2009 (Base=187) Regional Q31: Within the region you visited, what specific towns or ciles did you visit? 14 notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level
Day Leisure Visitor Demographics: Mid- Coast The demographic profile of day leisure visitors to the Mid- Coast remained largely staasacally stable between 2008 and 2009. The two excepaons to this both relate to age, where there was a significant decrease in the percentage of leisure day visitors to this region between age 35-44 and a significant increase of day leisure visitors to this region age 55 and over. 2008 (Base=164) 2009 (Base=155) Mean Age 47.1 50.2 < 35 20% 21% 35-44 25% 13% 45-54 20% 15% 55 + 32% 51% Mean Income $82,700 $76,000 < $50,000 18% 28% $50,000 - $99,000 55% 55% $100,000 + 26% 18% Female 48% 47% College Degree or Higher 76% 65% Married 69% 66% Employed Full Time 51% 52% notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level 2009 Annual Report 15
Day Leisure Visitor Residence: Mid- Coast Nearly two- thirds of leisure day visitors to the Mid- Coast are Maine residents. It s also notable that there was a significant year- over- year increase in the percentage of leisure day visitors to the Mid- Coast from MassachuseIs, making this the second largest residence group of leisure day visitors to this region. 2009 Annual Report Maine 63% 75% Massachusetts 9% 21% New Hampshire 12% 10% Quebec 2% 4% Rhode Island 0% 2% New Brunswick 0% 2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2008 (Base=164) 2009 (Base=155) Day Q1A. In what State or Province do you reside? 16 notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level
Primary Purpose of Day Leisure Trips: Mid- Coast Day leisure visitors to the Mid- Coast are relaavely split between several primary trip purposes. One- third of this group report that their leisure day visit to the region was to shop, while one- quarter report that it was for outdoor recreaaon, and one- fijh said it was to go touring. This illustrates the wide variety of airacaons in the Mid- Coast for leisure day visitors. Primary Purpose of Day Leisure Trips 2009 Annual Report Shopping 24% 34% Please Note: Rest & RelaxaLon was not included in the 2009 survey. This helps to explain the significant year- over- year increases in other primary purpose categories on this chart. Outdoor recreation Touring Rest & Relaxation Special event Cultural and heritage tourism NA 2% 9% 9% 7% 21% 13% 17% 26% 27% Other 8% 5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 2008 (Base=164) 2009 (Base=155) Day Q3. What was the primary purpose of your most recent leisure trip in Maine? 17 notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level
100% Day Leisure Trip Ac6vi6es: Mid- Coast In accordance with the previous slide, there is not one dominant acavity conducted by leisure day visitors to the Mid- Coast. Instead, just over half of this group reported that they went shopping, while enjoying the views, resang, and driving for pleasure were all cited by slightly less than half of this group. It s also important to note that resang, driving for pleasure, and exploring State and NaAonal Parks all saw staasacal year- over- year increases in the percent of this group who conducted them during their visits. Top Trip Ac6vi6es 2009 Annual Report 80% 60% 57% 40% 20% 0% 47% Shopping (NET) 37% Enjoying the views 46% 45% 23% Resting, relaxing, unwinding 20% 42% Driving for pleasure 38% 31% Sightseeing 33% 29% Outdoor activities (NET) NA 24% 23% 22% 21% 16% Trying to find the best lobster roll NA Searching for local cuisine or dining hot spots Visiting family and friends 8% Exploring State and National Parks 2008 (Base=164) 2009 (Base=155) Day Q10. In which of the following aclviles did you parlcipate during this trip? (Please check all that apply) 18 notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level
Day Leisure Visitor Towns & Ci6es Visited: Mid- Coast 2009 Annual Report Within the region you visited, what specific towns or ci6es did you visit? Percent of visitors to region Brunswick 25% 36% Wiscasset 10% 29% Rockland 17% 28% Bath Camden Boothbay Harbor 24% 20% 23% 19% 22% 23% Rockport Topsham Damariscotta Phippsburg Belfast 6% 6% 14% 14% 14% 12% 12% 11% 12% 12% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2008 (Base=164) 2009 (Base=155) Day Q12: Within the region you visited, what specific towns or ciles did you visit? 19 notes significant year- over- year difference at 95% confidence level
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