FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - SURVEY PARTICIPANTS
Sample Survey Form
Web Form Access
Relevance and Selection
Participation
Submitting Data
Survey Questions
Other Information
SAMPLE SURVEY FORM
Below is a sample of a paper survey form. Although paper forms are no longer the method of data collection for this survey, this form shows the questions that are asked in the web form.
STA June 2015 -16 Sample Only CC.pdf
WEB FORM ACCESS
To access your web form, create an ABS Survey Account online by entering the following address into your web browser (i.e. enter into the address bar not into a search engine) https://abs.gov.au/survey. Once you have created your account, login using the ‘Form Access Code' details that is included in your letter from the ABS. If you have misplaced your letter and Access Code details, please call 1800 304 488 (free call excluding mobile phones).
RELEVANCE AND SELECTION
What is the purpose of the survey and who uses the data?
The Survey of Tourist Accommodation (STA) is the principle source of tourist accommodation statistics in Australia. The results of this survey are published in Tourist Accommodation, Australia (Cat. No. 8635.0) and are used by a wide variety of organisations in both government and private industry to analyse trends in the availability and use of accommodation facilities.
Major users of the data include:
- state and territory tourism authorities
- regional tourism organisations funded by Local Government
- the Commonwealth Treasury and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT))
- key industry stakeholders, such as the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) and National Tourism Alliance (NTA)
- international agencies like the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
- consultants, developers and tourism related businesses
- data users in the general public.
Why did our establishment get chosen for the survey?
A small number of ABS business surveys are conducted as censuses. This means that all businesses within a particular industry will be selected to participate. The STA is run as a census that requires all in scope establishments to be included in the survey.
Establishments in scope of the STA are:
- hotels and resorts with 15 or more rooms
- motels, private hotels and guest houses with 15 or more rooms
- serviced apartments with 15 or more units.
Our establishment does not usually accommodate tourists. Do we still have to complete the survey?
Yes. The term ‘tourist’ applies to persons who travel outside of their usual environment for many purposes, including holidays, business and study.
Our establishment has a number of rooms/units that are rented out on a long-term basis, how does this affect our selection in the survey?
Individual rooms/units are out of scope for the STA if they are continuously rented/leased for a period greater than 2 months by the same person or company. However, if greater than half of your establishment is made up of 15 or more rooms/units available for short term stay (2 months or less), then your establishment is still in scope. Survey calculations must only be made for the short term stay rooms/units.
Is timeshare in scope for the survey?
Timeshare establishments are out of scope unless they have a majority (50% or more) of their occupancy taken up by the general public, as opposed to timeshare owners.
PARTICIPATION
Is the survey compulsory?
The ABS relies on the cooperation of accommodation establishments in Australia to provide accurate information as requested. However, the Census and Statistics Act 1905 provides the Australian Statistician with the power, if necessary, to direct you in writing to answer the questions.
Why don’t you pay people to fill in the survey?
The ABS appreciates that considerable time and effort is required on the part of respondents to complete the form. As there is no provision under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 to pay respondents for their time, we rely on their cooperation.
Is confidentiality of my data guaranteed?
The ABS has a legislative responsibility to ensure that it provides a quality statistical service whilst also protecting the privacy rights of those individuals or businesses who provide information. Your completed form remains confidential to the ABS and statistics will only be published in the form of aggregated data. The Australian Statistician and his staff are bound by the Census and Statistics Act 1905 to observe the strictest confidence in regard to the information supplied by respondents.
How accurate do my figures need to be?
The ABS requires information that is as accurate as possible. The more accurate the figures you supply, the more accurate the total estimate will be. However, if exact data is not readily available careful estimates will be accepted.
How will I remember information for my establishment for the whole financial year?
Below is an electronic workbook that has been designed to assist you to keep records throughout the 2016-17 financial year for the Survey of Tourist Accommodation. Please note however, that you may not be required to complete an STA in its current format for the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 as the collection is being reviewed. There is currently a Request for Tender process underway for the provision of services relating to a national tourist accommodation data collection. This process may change the look and feel of a future tourist accommodation collection, which may not be undertaken by the ABS.
The release of this workbook is for your convenience only and is not reflective of the outcome of the Request for Tender. However, regularly recording information in the workbook may assist you to complete any future accommodation survey as required.
To download a copy of the workbook, click on the link below and save it to a suitable location on your computer. Once completed, please do not return this workbook to the ABS as it is for your records only.
SUBMITTING DATA
How do I access the web form?
To access your web form, create an ABS Survey Account online by entering the following address into your web browser (i.e. enter into the address bar not into a search engine) https://abs.gov.au/survey. Once you have created your account, login using the ‘Form Access Code' details that is included in your letter from the ABS. If you have misplaced your letter and Access Code details, please call 1800 304 488 (free call excluding mobile phones).
Can I save the web form as a draft?
Yes, there is functionality to save the web form when partially completed so you can return to it later. To do this simply click the Print, Save and Exit button at the top of the form. This will save your form and exit you from the system. You will receive a confirmation message. You can then log back in to complete the survey at any time. Please be aware that for security reasons, if there is inactivity on your computer for 20 minutes the web form will time out.
How do I submit the web form?
To submit your completed form to the ABS, click the Submit button at the end of the form. Remember that once you submit the form, you will no longer be able to view or update it.
Can I keep a copy?
Yes, the ABS highly recommends that you keep a copy of your completed form for your own personal records.
- To print a copy of the form, click the Print button on the receipt page.
- A sample version of the form is available to download by clicking Download Form from the navigation menu.
Can I get an extension or request assistance to complete the form?
If you need help completing the form, or feel that you may have difficulties in meeting the due date, please call 1800 304 488 and advise our staff of the situation.
SURVEY QUESTIONS
Why do you need to collect my turnover?
Turnover is as important as any of the other data items requested. Your turnover information contributes to providing a picture of the size of the tourist accommodation industry in financial terms. Your individual data is never released in anything other than an aggregate form.
What is meant by ‘room/unit nights’?
If a room/unit is occupied on any given night, then that is a room/unit night. For example; if a motel has 20 rooms and 10 of them are occupied every night for a 30 day month, then that would equate to 300 room nights for that month.
What is meant by ‘guest nights’?
If a guest stays in an establishment on any given night, then that is a guest night. For example; if a motel has 20 rooms and 10 of them are occupied every night for a 30 day month, with 2 people staying in each room every one of those nights, then that would equate to 600 guest nights for that month.
We have many different types of beds at our establishment, how do I count these?
Any style of bed that is normally used as a permanent bed should be included in your figures. If a bed is designed to sleep one person it will count toward single beds. If a bed is designed to sleep two people it will count toward double beds.
OTHER INFORMATION
There have been significant changes at our establishment since the last survey, how do I inform the ABS of these changes?
Please update the relevant fields on your web form if there has been any significant change/s to the following details:
- operating name
- physical or postal address
- Australian Business Number (ABN)
- ownership or operations
- contact details of the person best qualified to provide the data and respond to ABS queries.
I have already sent you the information requested.
If you believe you have already given the information requested by the ABS through a survey or other means, please call our staff on 1800 304 488 and let us know. If you received a reminder notice about your form, you may have submitted the survey at the same time as your reminder notice was sent out.
How can my establishment get access to the results of ABS surveys?
As a participant in a survey, you can ask to receive an electronic copy of the main publication into which your data has contributed. You can also access the results of the STA and other ABS surveys on-line by going to www.abs.gov.au or contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
THANK YOU
The ABS is grateful for the cooperation of establishments in returning completed forms promptly to enable early processing and release of results from our surveys. We look forward to your continued support.