Holidaymaker Study 2012

Is there any one thing about Donegal/Sligo in particular that you would advise other holidaymakers to do or see?

799 people said the following

Q:

A:

Abbey

Adventure Land

Alingham Hotel

Ardara

Benbulben

Boat Trip

Bundoran

Castle

Church

Clean

Cliffs

CoastlineConey Island

Cycling

Drive

Dromahair

Dunfanaghy

Families

Glencolumbcille

Golf

Green

Guinness

Horse-riding

Markree Castle

Mullaghmore

Mountains Lots to do

Lough Gill

MusicOutdoors

Parks Castle

Watersports

Pubs

Rosses Point

Rossnowlagh

PeopleScenery

Sea

Tour Around

Walking

Waterbus

Waves

Yeats

Yeats’ CountryYeats’ Grave

Strandhill

Sliabh LiagSligo

Surf Historic Sites

Glenveagh

Fields

Food

Fishing

Glencar Waterfall

Easy to get to

Events

Drumcliff

Drumcliff Churchyard

Davis’ Restaurant

CultureDonegal Castle

Donegal Town

Donegal

Coast

Coastal Drive

Countryside

Children

Beaches

GrangeKillybegs

Lake

s

North West

Q: How did overseas holidaymakers first come across Donegal / Sligo?

Top 3 Answers

Word of mouth

Internet

Guide books

44%

14%

10%

Q: Why did they choose Donegal / Sligo as their destination?

Top 3 Answers

Beautiful scenery

History / culture

Visit family / friends

20%

17%

13%

Q: What kind of information did they look for?

Top 3 Answers

Things to do and see

Attractions to visit

Accommodation

62%

59%

56%

Q: Before travelling, where did they source information?

Top 3 Answers

Internet*

Word of mouth

Brochures

79%

51%

49%

Q: Most popular internet sites to visit for information*

Top 3 Answers

Irish Tourist Board

General search engine, eg google

Accommodationsearch

68%

64%

58%

Q: When in Donegal / Sligo, where did they get information?

Top 3 Answers

Tourist information office

Accommodationprovider

Internet

69%

41%

24%

Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West

*

Number 1 Answer39% Own car

Number 1 Answer48% Hotel

Number 1 Answer48% Hotel

Hired Car Private coach tour

37%

4% Public transport Other

15%

4%

Home of family /friend

HostelRented accommodationCaravan / camping

B&B16%

10%

4%Own holiday home

2% Guesthouse

10%

7%

3%

Restaurant

Café

B&B

44%

24%

11%

Self-catering

Pub

Fast food take away

25%

21%

4%

Q: How did they get around Donegal / Sligo?

Q: What was their experience of getting around Donegal / Sligo?*

Q: Where did they stay in Donegal / Sligo?

Q: Where did they eat in Donegal / Sligo?

A:

Q: What did they think of eating out in Donegal / Sligo?*

A:

Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West

Transport to and from area 4.53Transport within the area 4.52Signposting for roads / directions 4.43Signs for attractions 4.31Condition of the roads 4.31 *average score (1=very poor and 5=very good)

Way in which food was prepared 75%Staff knowledge of menu 74%Quality and freshness of ingredients 72%Availability of distinctly Irish dishes 66%Service 63%Value for money 59% *percentage of a “very good” rating given

39% 48% 48%

Number 1 Answer49% Hiking /hillwalking

Number 1 Answer48% Historic house / castle

Boat trip

Golf

12%

7%

9%Interpretative centre

Traditional music /dance performance

45%

29%

21%

Garden National park

Museum /gallery

Farmer’s market

36%

24%

12%

Q: What did they do in Donegal / Sligo?Q: Where did they visit in Donegal / Sligo?

Q: What was their experience of Donegal / Sligo?*

A:

Water based activity (excluding swimming)

5%

Equestrian pursuits

3%

Attending a sporting event

1%

Mountainbiking

1%

Cycling Fishing5%

Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West

Friendliness of local people 4.90Natural environment eg, landscape 4.88Availability of things to see and do 4.57Overall value for money 4.49Quality of the buildings/architecture 4.48Cleanliness of locality 4.43 *average score (1=very poor and 5=very good)

48% 49%

Q: Aspects of traditional Irish culture that appealed to holidaymakers in Donegal / Sligo

Q: How did we get the information?Q: Would they recommend Donegal / Sligo for a holiday?

Q: Reasons for recommending Donegal / Sligo (those scoring 9 or 10)?

A: A:

Number 1 Answer72% Irish music

Irish dance

Irish storytelling

67%

56%

Irish crafts

Irish language

57%

31%

Holidaymaker Study 2012 - North West

When: May – October 2012

Where: Donegal / Sligo 1,004 face to face interviews with domestic and overseas holidaymakers

Who: 59% were first time visitors to Donegal / Sligo. All spent at least one night in area. Three quarters were aged over 35. Two fifths were couples.

?

1004 face to face interviews

69%

On a scale of 0-10, % who would highly recommend Donegal / Sligo (score of 9-10) less % those that would not (score of 0-6)

Number 1 Answer80% Beautiful scenery, countryside

People, nice and friendly Peaceful / relaxingLots to doand see

76%

55%

44%

History, culture

TraditionalcultureGreat tourist location

58%

47%

37%

80%

72%