James Cook University Centre for Disaster Studies Tropical cyclone awareness and preparedness amongst backpackers and accommodation providers in Cairns, Queensland, Australia Principal Investigators for the JCU Centre for Disaster Studies (CDS): Wouter Hoogenraad Ronald van Eden Supervisors: Linda Anderson-Berry & David King – CDS Edited by David King Advisor: Scott Cunliffe - CDS Cairns, Australia, June 2003 James Cook University Centre for Disaster Studies Tropical cyclone awareness and preparedness amongst backpackers and accommodation providers in Cairns, Queensland, Australia Principal Investigators for the JCU Centre for Disaster Studies (CDS): Wouter Hoogenraad Ronald van Eden Supervisors: Linda Anderson-Berry & David King – CDS Edited by David King Advisor: Scott Cunliffe - CDS Cairns, Australia, June 2003 This report is a follow-up investigation, based on the first report prepared in 2001 by CDS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of tables List of figures Acknowledgements Executive summary Abstract 1. Introduction 5 2. Literature review and background to study 6 3. Methodology 11 3.1 Survey design & technique 11 3.2 Questionnaire composition 11 3.2.1 Backpackers 11 3.2.2 Accommodation providers 12 3.3 Sample population selection 12 3.4 Data analysis 12 3.5 Study area 13 3.6 Constraints of the study 14 4. Results 15 4.1 Backpackers 15 4.1.1 Backpacker characteristics 15 4.1.2 Style of travelling 20 4.1.3 Sources of information 27 4.1.4 General knowledge and awareness of cyclones 32 4.1.5 Attitude and concern about cyclones 43 4.1.6 Use of Internet 49 4.2 Accommodation providers 53 4.2.1 Accommodation provider characteristics 53 4.2.2 Concern about cyclones 54 4.2.3 Cyclone information provided by accommodation providers 56 4.2.4 Preparedness of accommodation providers for cyclones 57 5. Current information about cyclones 59 5.1. Lonely planet 59 5.2. Brochures & magazines 59 5.3. Cairns Airport 60 6. Discussion 61 6.1 Backpackers 61 6.2 Accommodation providers 65 7. Conclusion 67 8. Recommendations 69 9. References 71 10. Appendices 73 Appendix 1: Questionnaire Backpackers Appendix 2: Questionnaire Accommodation providers Appendix 3: Approval Letter List of Tables Page Table 1. Gender 15 Table 2. Age 16 Table 3. Origin of backpackers 17 Table 4. Educational level 18 Table 5. Level of competency for written and spoken English 19 Table 6. Main purpose of trip to Australia 20 Table 7. Main transport use 21 Table 8. Size of travel group 22 Table 9. Length of stay in Australia 23 Table 10. Length of stay in Cairns 24 Table 11. Destination after Cairns 25 Table 12. Member of YHA 26 Table 13. Searched information about Australia before trip 27 Table 14. Kind of information searched for 28 Table 15. Sources of information before trip 29 Table 16. Sources of information during trip 30 Table 17. Guidebook used 31 Table 18. Awareness of cyclones in Australia 32 Table 19. Knowledge about cyclone-affected areas 32 Table 20. Information about cyclones before trip started 33 Table 21. Found information about cyclones during trip 34 Table 22. Source of information about cyclones 34 Table 23. How useful was the information? 35 Table 24. Was the information enough? 36 Table 25. Searched for more information about cyclones 36 Table 26. Source of up to date cyclone information 38 Table 27. Cyclone safety information at accommodation 39 Table 28. Cyclone season 40 Table 29. More destructive cyclone 41 Table 30. Description of a storm surge 42 Table 31. Influence of cyclone preparedness on choice of accommodation 43 Table 32. Planned trip with cyclone season in mind 44 Table 33. What to do in case of a cyclone 45 Table 34. Threat of cyclones 46 Table 35: Lived in a cyclone prone area 47 Table 36: Travelled in a cyclone prone area 48 Table 37: Internet use during trip 49 Table 38: Time spent on the Internet in a week 49 Table 39: Place of use of the Internet 50 Table 40: What backpackers use the Internet for 51 Table 41: Visited tourism websites 52 Table 42: Number of Beds 53 Table 43: Occupancy rate 53 Table 44: Damage at facility 54 Table 45: Property damage 54 Table 46: Personal safety 55 Table 47: Financial risk 55 Table 48: Worse reputation 55 Table 49: Cyclone information available 56 Table 50: Languages of cyclone information 56 Table 51: Most useful cyclone information for visitors 57 Table 52: Where the management gets their cyclone information 57 Table 53: Does the facility have an emergency safety plan? 57 Table 54: What kind of an emergency plan is available at the facility 58 Table 55: Willing to have cyclone information at facility 58 List of Figures Page Figure 1. Gender 15 Figure 2. Age 16 Figure 3. Origin of backpackers 17 Figure 4. Educational level 18 Figure 5. Level of competency for written and spoken English 19 Figure 6. Main purpose of trip to Australia 20 Figure 7. Main transport use 21 Figure 8. Size of travel group 22 Figure 9. Length of stay in Australia 23 Figure 10. Length of stay in Cairns 24 Figure 11. Destination after Cairns 25 Figure 12. Member of YHA 26 Figure 13. Searched information about Australia before trip 27 Figure 14. Kind of information searched for 28 Figure 15. Sources of information before trip 29 Figure 16. Sources of information during trip 30 Figure 17. Guidebook used 31 Figure 18. Awareness of cyclones in Australia 32 Figure 19. Knowledge about cyclone-affected areas 33 Figure 20. Information about cyclones before trip started 33 Figure 21. Found information about cyclones during trip 34 Figure 22. Source of information about cyclones 35 Figure 23. How useful was the information? 35 Figure 24. Was the information enough? 36 Figure 25. Searched for more information about cyclones 37 Figure 26. Source of up to date cyclone information 38 Figure 27. Cyclone safety information at accommodation 39 Figure 28. Cyclone season 40 Figure 29. More destructive cyclone 41 Figure 30. Description of a storm surge 42 Figure 31. Influence of cyclone preparedness on choice of accommodation 43 Figure 32. Planned trip with cyclone season in mind 44 Figure 33. What to do in case of a cyclone 45 Figure 34. Threat of cyclones 47 Figure 35: Lived in a cyclone prone area 47 Figure 36: Travelled in a cyclone prone area 48 Figure 37: Internet use during trip 49 Figure 38: Time spent on the Internet in a week 49 Figure 39: Place of use of the Internet 50 Figure 40: What backpackers use the Internet for 51 Figure 41: Visited tourism websites 52 Acknowledgements The principal investigators extend a word of thanks to Dr Linda Anderson-Berry, Dr David King and Scott Cunliffe of the Centre for Disaster Studies for their support and sharing of knowledge during the project. Carola Washbourne of the Cairns City deserves our thanks for her support for this project. Our thanks also go to all of the participants, backpackers and accommodation providers, without whom this project never could have been accomplished. Further thanks go to Stephen Walsh of the accommodation provider association of Cairns. Cairns City Council contributed towards the costs of this study. Our thanks go to Councillor Jeff Pezzutti and Denis Quick of Cairns City Council. Executive summary • Based on the English competency level of the backpackers, 97 percent of them should be able to understand cyclone safety information • The main purpose of backpackers to visit Australia was holiday. Literature indicates that people on holiday are in a pleasure-seeking mood and tend to ignore the risk and show a low level of natural disaster awareness. • The influence of cyclones on the trip of backpackers was minimal, since 219 of the 220 backpackers did not plan their trip according to the cyclone season. • The general awareness of cyclones amongst backpackers was relatively high, as almost three-quarters of the backpackers were aware of cyclones occurring in Australia. However, backpackers are extremely vulnerable to the impact of tropical cyclones since their concern as well as their level of knowledge about cyclones was minimal. • Two third of the backpackers were travelling in small informal groups. This potentially increases their safety and security. • As backpackers mainly used the bus as mean of transport during their trip through Australia it is recommended that cyclone safety information be provided at bus stops. • The most popular source of information during and before the trip of backpackers was a guidebook. The most popular guidebook was the Lonely Planet, used by more than half of the backpackers; therefore a chapter might be included with cyclone safety information. • Amongst the backpackers there was not one particular idea what to do if a cyclone is heading for the coast. Most of them would ask for information, evacuate or shelter. Nevertheless all of these three options are plausible. • Pamphlets with cyclone information directed to backpackers should be designed in a visually attractive way, as backpackers are not interested in complex and detailed cyclone information. The interests and behaviour of the backpackers has to be taken into consideration at the design of specific cyclone information. • Almost all of the backpackers used the Internet during their trip. However it is rarely used as a source of information. Therefore it is recommended to set up or refer to an Internet site that should be clearly identified in pamphlets. • It is important that accommodation providers supply information brochures and pamphlets to visitors. As not all the accommodation providers were willing to seek out information, responsibility of delivery of cyclone information may fall on council and emergency managers. • Not all the staff of the accommodations had knowledge of the emergency safety plans. Nevertheless it is important that all the employees understand these plans. In case of a cyclone it is important the staff is well aware of the safety procedures. • The objective of this project was to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of how to improve awareness of the tropical cyclone risk among backpackers and the mode and style of delivery of cyclone awareness campaigns targeted towards backpacker tourists. • This project was an expansion of a previous project carried out by the Centre for Disaster Studies in 2000, also supported by the Cairns City Council, which was performed outside the cyclone season. As an extension on the previous project this study was also focused on the information resources of backpackers. • The interviews were taken during February, March and April within the cyclone season of 2003, where 220 backpackers and 8 accommodation providers were interviewed. • The general backpacker characteristics correspond with the results of the previous study, since backpackers tend to be young, well educated people. Abstract The objective of this project is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of how to improve awareness of the tropical cyclone risk among backpackers and the mode and style of delivery of cyclone awareness campaigns targeted towards backpacker tourists. This project is an expansion of a previous project carried out by the Centre for Disaster Studies in 2000, also supported by the Cairns City Council, which was performed outside the cyclone season. As an extension on the previous project this study also focused on the information resources of backpackers. Backpackers are in general aware of cyclones in Australia, although their specific knowledge about cyclones is minimal. The behaviour of backpackers is not influenced in regards to the hazards of cyclones, as backpackers did not plan their trip according to the cyclone season, even though aware of it. When a severe cyclone is heading for the coast, backpackers may act in various ways: look into what to do, evacuate, shelter or stay, all plausible actions. Because backpackers are not likely to search in an active way for cyclone information prior to a cyclone warning, the current passive cyclone awareness campaigns should be changed to more active campaigns directed to backpackers. The recommended way to provide cyclone information to backpackers is by pamphlets and brochures at accommodation providers with a direction to an Internet site. Moreover, information can be provided at bus stops and in guidebooks like the Lonely Planet. Regarding the accommodations providers, improvements can be made in the way they are prepared for cyclones. To ensure the safety of backpackers all the staff of accommodations should be well informed about the safety procedures present. 1. Introduction A significant number of the tourists visiting the popular tourist destinations of Cairns and the coast up to Cape Tribulation are backpackers. These places are located in the coastal area of Queensland, and are prone to tropical cyclones. Backpackers are considered more vulnerable to the impacts of tropical cyclones compared to other tourists, because they are independent. Therefore the accommodation providers have a big responsibility towards cyclone safety. This project is an expansion of a previous project, carried out by the Centre for Disaster Studies in 2000, which was performed outside the cyclone season. The report of this study was finished in 2001. In the 2001 report, the previous experience with tropical cyclones of backpackers was investigated, as well as their general knowledge and awareness about tropical cyclones, their preparedness and perceptions of risk were investigated. This study is focussed on the above subjects, and the information resources of backpackers to determine the best way to reach them with information about tropical cyclones. The objective of this project is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of how to improve awareness of the tropical cyclone risk among backpackers and the mode and style of delivery of cyclone awareness campaigns targeted towards backpacker tourists. The main aims of the project are to: • Determine awareness of the cyclone and storm surge hazards among backpacker tourists in Cairns during the 2002-2003 tropical cyclone season; • Determine how and where backpackers acquire information about the tropical cyclone risk and any recommended preparatory and defensive action behaviours; • Compare results of the current study with those of a previous study carried out during the non-cyclone season; • Identify tropical cyclone awareness education and information needs; • Recommend tropical cyclone awareness education strategies. 5