The Kodiak Experience:An Exit Survey of Visitors

Using theAlaska Marine Highway System

ByQuentin S.W. Fong

Pam ForemanDebora King

Objectives

Overall• To assist in the development of baseline market

research information of visitors to Kodiak

Specific• To obtain the Socioeconomic Attributes of visitors to

Kodiak using the AMHS• To determine the Length of Stay and Mode of

Accommodation of the visitors

• To elicit the Type of Activities that visitors participated and their Level of Satisfaction towards such activities

Methods

• Survey Development

• Data Collection

• Data Analysis

Results

• Survey administered from June 6, 2005 to September 22, 2005

• Total of 301 surveys completed• 148 (49.2%) surveys are from visitors• 153 (50.8%) are from residents of Kodiak or

seasonal workers to Kodiak

Why Are Our Visitors Here:Main Purpose for Trip

Note: n = 139; No response for “Other”, “Relocating”

73%

16%

7% 3% 1%

Vacationing/Pleasure Visiting Friends/Relatives

Business/Pleasure Business Only

Shopping

Who are Our Visitors:Visitor Origin base on Census Region

Note: n= 138

42

20

1513

11

11

7

712

Alaska Pacific Mountain

East North Central International West South CentralMiddle Atlantic South Atlantic Other

Who are Our Visitors:Respondent’s Education Level

Note: n = 148

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

< Highschool Highschool/GED Some College/AA Bachelor's Post Bachelor's Refused

Education Level

Number of Response

Visitor Stay in Kodiak:Number of Nights

Note: n = 148

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21>

Nights in Kodiak

Number of Responses

Visitor Stay in Kodiak:Type of Lodging

Note: Some stayed in multiple type of lodging

22

2

21

26

43

23

1 5

B & B (n=22) Boat (n=2) Camp (RV) (n=21)

Camp (Tent) (n=26) Hotel (n=43) Priv. Res. (n=23)

Pub. Cabin (n=1) Lodge (n=5)

Visitor Stay in Kodiak:Average Number of Nights

Lodging Facilities Responses Average Nights

Hotel 43 3.35

Camping (Tent) 26 5.65

Private Residence 23 11.41

B & B 22 4.41

Camping (RV) 21 6.29

Remote Lodge 5 3

Boat 2 47

Public Use Cabin 1 60

Visitor’s Activities:Activity most Influenced Visitor to Visit

Note: n=139

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Fishing Visit Bear (Day) Sights(Unguided)

Business Layover Hiking Photo Wild/Marinelife Other

Activity

Number of Responses

Visitor’s Activities:Number of Responses for Selected Activities

Note: Most Participated in Multiple Activities

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Fishing Sights Hiking Cultural Wildlife View Bear View

Activity

Number of Responses

Visitor’s Activities:Satisfaction Level for Selected Activities

Note: 5 = Most Satisfied 0= Most Dissatisfied

3.80

3.90

4.00

4.10

4.20

4.30

4.40

4.50

4.60

4.70

Fishing Sights Hiking Cultural Wildlife View Bear View

Activity

Satisfaction Levels

Visitor’s Response:Something Expected but did not Find

Note: n=45

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Bears Bad Weather Wildlife Fish/Fishing Larger City Friendliness Other

Not Find

Number of Responses

Acknowledgments

Financial Support• Alaska Marine Highway System• Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program

In-Kind Support• Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau• Kodiak Chamber of Commerce• Fishery Industrial Technology Center