Research Methods in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management

Step 4: Where on the site to interview

Given that it is advisable to interview at the end of the visit, it is necessary to find a

suitable point near to the site exit. Ideally, if there is a location where all visitors pass

on their way out of the site, then all would have an equal chance of being included in

the survey. As equal chance is a crucial aim in developing a fair sample, effort

should be made in establishing a suitable interview point.

There may be some sites, such as those in open countryside, where there is no single

exit. Here, careful and systematic observations can be used to determine the main

‘natural’ exit points. Then, either an interviewer can be placed at each exit or a single

interviewer could visit each in rotation.