Silence Tourism

Welcome!

The topic of my bachelor's thesis is

"Silence Tourism: The Importance of Quiet for Travel in a World of Noise and Distraction".

With this survey I want to find out if and how you crave for peace and quiet nowadays.

Questions marked with a star (*) are required questions.

The survey is completely anonymous and all data is processed according to the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Secured

Personal Background

Let's start with some personal information.

Personal Background

Gender

male

female

other

Personal Background

Age

Personal Background

University

[university you are enrolled at or exchange student at through which you received the survey]

Personal Background

Nationality

[country in which you grew up]

Personal Background

Living Environment

[area in which you spent the majority of your life]

remote/away from it all

rural/village

urban/city (smaller type, < 1 million)

urban/city (larger type, > 1 million)

urban/city (megacity type, > 10 million)

Personal Background

What does your current housing situation look like?

[drag the slider]

0

low-rise building (1-3 floors)

high-rise building (4+ floors)

0

own flat/apartment/house

shared flat/apartment/house

0

at quiet road

at busy road

Personal Background

What does your average trip look like?

[drag the slider]

0

solo

group

0

budget

luxury

0

few days

several weeks

0

peace and quiet

hustle and bustle

0

wilderness

urban

0

relaxation

adventure

0

indulgence

education

Noise

Now to noise.

The world is getting louder.

Noise

How strongly do you feel affected by EVERYDAY NOISE?

[select from 5-point scale]

Noise

From which noise(s) do you feel affected?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

ROAD TRAFFIC (passing cars, motorbikes, trucks)

-

RAIL TRAFFIC (passing passenger trains, freight trains)

-

AIR TRAFFIC (landing and taking-off aircrafts)

-

OFF-ROAD VEHICLES (off-road cars, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, motorboats)

-

NEIGHBOURS, RESIDENTIAL/DOMESTIC (parties, loudly tuned televisions and music, loud voices, children, stomping footsteps, banging doors, barking dogs, vacuum cleaning, lawn mowing, humming ventilation systems)

-

NEIGHBOURS, LEISURE/COMMERCIAL (bars, clubs, restaurants, shopping centres, playgrounds, music and sports events)

-

INDUSTRIES (industrial work like manufacturing, machinery and processes)

-

CONSTRUCTION (construction work on streets and buildings)

Noise

In which way(s) concerning your health and wellbeing do you feel affected?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

ANNOYED AND/OR FRUSTRATED

-

SLEEP DISTURBED

-

DIFFICULTIES TO FOCUS AND CONCENTRATE

-

HIGHER BLOOD PRESSURE

-

REDUCED HEARING ABILITY

Distraction

Next to distraction.

The world is more distracted by digital devices and social media than ever before.

Distraction

How strongly do you feel affected by EVERYDAY DIGITAL DISTRACTION?

[select from 5-point scale]

Distraction

From which digital device(s) do you feel affected?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

SMARTPHONE

-

LAPTOP AND/OR DESKTOP

-

TABLET

-

TELEVISION

-

GAME CONSOLE

-

SMART WATCH

Distraction

From which digital media using on your device(s) do you feel affected?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

SOCIAL MEDIA, PASSIVE USE (passively scrolling through and watching content)

-

SOCIAL MEDIA, ACTIVE USE (actively creating, posting and sharing content)

-

SOCIAL MEDIA, MESSAGING (messaging with friends and family)

-

STREAMING MEDIA, MOVIES (streaming movies and television shows)

-

STREAMING MEDIA, MUSIC (streaming music and podcasts)

-

VIDEO GAME MEDIA, MOBILE GAMES (playing mobile games downloaded from app stores)

-

VIDEO GAME MEDIA, FULL VERSION VIDEO GAMES (playing full version video games bought in stores or downloaded from online game stores)

Distraction

Which of the following factors do you think play a major role in keeping you distracted?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

RANKING AND RECOMMENDATION SYSTEMS (algorithms)

-

ADVERTISEMENTS (ads)

-

FEAR OF MISSING OUT (missing new messages, interesting posts, latest trends, breaking news, upcoming events)

-

FEAR OF FACING YOURSELF (avoiding boredom, unpleasant thoughts and feelings)

-

FEAR OF FACING OTHERS (paying attention to phone instead of others to avoid awkward situations and feelings)

Distraction

In which way(s) concerning your health and wellbeing do you feel affected?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

OVERSTIMULATED AND/OR MENTALLY EXHAUSTED

-

DIFFICULTIES TO PAY ATTENTION (on just one thing for a sustained period of time)

-

SLEEP DEPRIVED

-

ANXIOUS AND/OR DEPRESSED

-

LOWER FITNESS

-

POOR BODY POSTURE (round stiff neck, shoulders, back)

-

UNFAVOURABLE BODY COMPOSITION (overweight)

Please select the option “I fully agree” to ensure you read and answer questions attentively.

I don't agree

I somewhat agree

I fully agree

Quiet

Increasing noise.

Increasing distraction.

What to do?

Quiet

Do you yourself have a MEMORABLE QUIET EXPERIENCE?

[experience that sticks to your memory because it has had a powerful impactful impression on you]

no

yes

Quiet

Please specify:

[place, situation, feelings etc.]

Quiet

Quiet in your daily life.

Quiet - Daily Life

Which efforts have you taken AND work well for you to fight NOISE in your daily life?

[select ones taken]

wearing noise-cancelling headphones

wearing earplugs and/or earmuffs

soundproofing walls, doors, windows and/or floors

turning on calming ambient sounds or a fan in the background to cover noise

searching for quiet green spaces (parks, gardens, botanical gardens, national parks, forests, lakes etc.)

searching for quiet built spaces (cafes, courtyards, libraries etc.)

other (please specify)

Quiet - Daily Life

Which efforts have you taken AND work well for you to fight DIGITAL DISTRACTION in your daily life?

[select ones taken]

deinstalling social media apps

turning off notifications from certain apps

putting devices do-not-disturb or airplane mode during concentration-demanding tasks

powering off devices during the night

installing ad blockers

using apps to track screen time

intentionally taking screen time breaks

practicing mindfulness (mindful awareness of body, mind and feelings in the present moment)

other (please specify)

Quiet

Quiet in your travels.

Quiet - Travels

Have you ever taken trips for the MAIN purpose of finding quiet?

[any trip, can also be a day trip as long as it is outside your usual environment, for no longer than one consecutive year]

no

yes

Quiet - Travels

Please specify:

[destination, country, region, transportation, accommodation, activities, duration etc.]

Do you have a favourite quiet destination?

Quiet - Travels

Did you try to avoid noise and distractions during the quiet trip as much as possible?

no

yes

Quiet - Travels

On the way to the destination, which of the below listed QUIET TRAVEL ZONES would you most likely take advantage of?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

QUIET TRAIN CARRIAGE (dedicated carriage requiring passengers to keep noise to a minimum)

-

QUIET AIRPORT ROOM (dedicated room offering passengers a quiet place to relax before the flight)

-

QUIET AIRCRAFT CABIN (dedicated cabin section requiring passengers to keep noise to a minimum)

Do you have other suggestions for quiet travel zones?

Quiet - Travels

In terms of QUIET, which of the below listed ACCOMMODATIONS would you be most interested to stay at (merely based on your interest, not considering the costs)?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

NATURE RETREAT (hotels, guesthouses, resorts and hostels focusing on nature immersion/the healing power of nature)

-

WELLNESS RETREAT (hotels, guesthouses, resorts and hostels focusing on wellness treatments/the healing power of wellness)

-

DIGITAL DETOX RETREAT (hotels, guesthouses, resorts and hostels encouraging to limit or abstain from digital technology during the stay)

-

OFF-GRID TINY HOUSE/CABIN (small, self-sufficient dwellings not connected to public utilities)

-

TREEHOUSE (structures built in and around branches of one or more trees)

-

CAMPING SITE (simple sites with minimal amenities requiring to set up own tent)

-

GLAMPING SITE (glamorous sites with high-end amenities featuring pre-erected domes, yurts or tents)

-

HOLIDAY HOME (second home away from everyday life for spending holidays allowing to commute be-tween city and nature)

Do you have other suggestions for quiet accommodations?

Quiet - Travels

In terms of QUIET, which of the below listed ACTIVITIES would you be most interested to participate in (merely based on your interest, not considering the costs)?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

FOREST/NATURE BATHING (guided walk in the forest/nature mindfully immersing in it with all senses)

-

SNOW EXPEDITION (guided walk in the Arctic or Antarctic wilderness on snowshoes or skis)

-

PILGRIMAGE (journey along ancient pilgrimage routes, like the Camino de Santiago in Spain, for self-reflection)

-

VIPASSANA MEDITATION (ten-day mediation course with the ancient technique of Vipassana “to see things as they really are”)

-

SENSORY DEPRIVATION TANK FLOATING (float in a dark, soundproof tank filled with warm, concentrated salt water deprived from any external stimuli “to feel like floating in space”)

-

TEA CEREMONY (ritualized Japanese practice of preparing and drinking tea, usually taking place without speaking)

-

SOUND HEALING (healing practice using sound vibrations from instruments, like singing bowls or gongs, promoting balance and relaxation)

Do you have other suggestions for quiet activities?

Quiet - Travels

Which of the below listed PUBLIC EFFORTS would you wish public authorities to take to fight noise?

[rank from most (top) to least (bottom)]

-

PROMOTING LOW-NOISE VEHICLES (electric vehicles, bicycles, scooters)

-

RETROFITTING VEHICLES WITH LOW-NOISE EQUIPMENT (exhaust mufflers, airless tires, low-friction train brake blocks, aircraft airframes)

-

RETROFITTING ROADS AND RAILWAYS WITH LOW-NOISE SOLUTIONS (silent rubber asphalt, rail dampers)

-

PLACING NOISE BARRIERS ALONG ROADS, RAILWAYS AND CONSTRUCTION SITES (walls blocking sound waves, diffractors redirecting sound waves upwards)

-

INSULATING BUILDINGS (mineral wool absorbing sound waves, metamaterials manipulating sound waves)

-

PROTECTING CURRENT QUIET AREAS (quiet labels, business and activity restrictions)

-

ENFORCING BINDING NOISE LIMITS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS (quiet road signs, speed bumps)

-

ESTABLISHING GREEN AND CAR-FREE SPACES IN CITIES (parks, gardens, ponds, street trees, green facades and roofs)

-

SETTING UP SOUND INSATLLATIONS TO MASK NOISE (ambient music, water fountains, sound masking systems in offices)

Do you have other suggestions for public efforts?

Closure

Before submitting, is there anything else you would like to mention?

Thank you for your time and your feedback!

Share this survey with your university friends to help me get more responses.

Thanks again,

Williem

(Double Degree Tourism Student at Harz & Kajaani University of Applied Sciences)

Silence Tourism

Gender

Age

University

Nationality

Living Environment

What does your current housing situation look like?

What does your average trip look like?

How strongly do you feel affected by EVERYDAY NOISE?

From which noise(s) do you feel affected?

In which way(s) concerning your health and wellbeing do you feel affected?

How strongly do you feel affected by EVERYDAY DIGITAL DISTRACTION?

From which digital device(s) do you feel affected?

From which digital media using on your device(s) do you feel affected?

Which of the following factors do you think play a major role in keeping you distracted?

In which way(s) concerning your health and wellbeing do you feel affected?

Please select the option “I fully agree” to ensure you read and answer questions attentively.

Do you yourself have a MEMORABLE QUIET EXPERIENCE?

Please specify:

Do you seek QUIET RELIEF from everyday noise and distraction in your DAILY LIFE?

Which efforts have you taken AND work well for you to fight NOISE in your daily life?

Which efforts have you taken AND work well for you to fight DIGITAL DISTRACTION in your daily life?

Do you seek QUIET RELIEF from everyday noise and distraction in your TRAVELS?

Have you ever taken trips for the MAIN purpose of finding quiet?

Please specify:

Do you have a favourite quiet destination?

Did you try to avoid noise and distractions during the quiet trip as much as possible?

On the way to the destination, which of the below listed QUIET TRAVEL ZONES would you most likely take advantage of?

Do you have other suggestions for quiet travel zones?

In terms of QUIET, which of the below listed ACCOMMODATIONS would you be most interested to stay at (merely based on your interest, not considering the costs)?

Do you have other suggestions for quiet accommodations?

In terms of QUIET, which of the below listed ACTIVITIES would you be most interested to participate in (merely based on your interest, not considering the costs)?

Do you have other suggestions for quiet activities?

Which of the below listed PUBLIC EFFORTS would you wish public authorities to take to fight noise?

Do you have other suggestions for public efforts?

Before submitting, is there anything else you would like to mention?