A review of the surveys in Spain and Portugal

Sixteen days in Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon and, finally, Porto. More than 400 questionnaires were totally filled in . Interesting experiences were gained in all of them. Initially, it looked like a dream, but at the end it came true, mainly because of you, all the participants that accepted spending five minutes to provide some useful for my thesis information.

And for the statistics maniacs:

4 different airlines were used

Around 50 kilometres were walked

1250 km were covered with the trains

3 universities were visited

Around 600 men and women were approached

More than 400 of them finally filled in one questionnaire each

The places visited in alphabetic order:

Casilhas metro and train stations (Porto)

Casilhas (Lisbon)

Central shooping streets (Barcelona)

Central shoping streets (Lisbon)

Central shopping streets (Madrid)

Central shopping streets (Porto)

Dragao shopping mall (Porto)

Economics University (Lisbon)

Gracia (Barcelona)

IADE University (Lisbon)

Parc de la Ciutadela (Barcelona)

Parque da cidade (Porto)

Parque del Retiro (Madrid)

Passeig de Gracia (Barcelona)

Plaza del Sol (Madrid)

Plaza Mayor (Madrid)

Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona)

Santa Apolonia train Station (Lisbon)

Tribunal metro station (Madrid)

Trinidad metro station (Porto)

UP Institute of Sciences (Porto)

Porto 24,25/07

Last days in Porto. It was really hard to find Portuguese in the weekend. So, the central part of the beach and some parks were visited. Fortunately, the research in Iberia is done and I will be back to Greece after a long time for the same surveys.

Muito obrigado pela vossa ajuda

Porto 22,23/07

Lisbon 18-21/07

Although Lisbon is one of the smallest cities from the ones visited so far, its citizens were very responsive. Once again, 100 questionnaires were filled in and the response rate was around 0.65.

The streets around the city centre, the Santa Apolonia train Station, the IADE and the Economics Universities as well as the Casilhas region were visited.

So far, Lisbon citizens seem to be the most domestic oriented regarding the destination choice.

Muito obrigado pela vossa ajuda

Barcelona 14-17/07

Four days in Barcelona and more than 100 questionnaires were filled in by its citizens.

The shooping streets around the centre, Passeig de Gracia, Gracia, the Parc de la Ciutadela and the Pompeu Fabra University were visited between others.

The people there seemed very friendly, mainly visiting domestic destinations and having a high environmental consciousness.

Next stop Lisbon with the promise to return some day to this wonderful city.

Muchas gracias por sus ayuda.

Madrid 12/07

Third day in Madrid.
40 questionnaires were filled in. The response rate was around 0.80.Plaza Mayor, the Parque del Retiro and the shopping streets Calle de la Montera and Calle de Fuencarral were visited.
But the most interesting scene of the day was the arrival of the World Champions at Gran Via.

Muchas gracias

Madrid 10,11/07

Two introductory days in Madrid

Tribunal metro station, Plaza del Sol and Parque del Retiro were visited.

40 questionnaires where filled in. The response rate was about 0.60.

The problem I faced in Benelux, with older people hardly responding to the survey, does not seem to exist in Madrid. Madrid citizens are very friendly, accepting having a photo with you, and shake your hand after the completion of the interview.

Now that Rojas are the world champions, I expect a much higher response rate

Muchas gracias por sus ayuda

The findings so far

The surveys in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp have already been completed. The data has been collected and after a quick analysis, some interesting information came afloat:

The most popular destinations for both the Rotterdam and Amsterdam citizens are Spain and France. In Antwerp, they seem to choose more often domestic destinations than a specific international one.

In all the three cities, people didn't seem to have a clear understanding of eco-frendliness in tourism and the impact of climate change on the destinations they visit.

The next cities to conduct this survey will be Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon and Porto from 10/07 up to 25/07.

Antwerp 23,25/06 and 01/07

Three days in Antwerp and more than 100 qestionnaires were filled in. It is like Belgians are more responsive than Dutch or I am getting really efficient as time goes by.

Some shopping centres, business centres and central square cafes from the Central Station down to the main canal were visited.

The response rate was about 69%

Antwerp citizens seem to choose more often domestic destinations than their Dutch homologous.

Thank you for your participation