NEKATUR www.nekatur.net

The Rural Farmhouse Accommodation and Rural Guesthouse association of Basque Country"

-40 questionnaire sent, 26 recipients, 22 used the on-line versions and 4 the hard copy

NEKATUR Functions -Foster the development of the products: Lodgings and services -Marketing, promotion, publicity , commercialisation -Control the quality of the equipment and services -Motivate the organisation and the cooperation between the members -Defend the interest of the members -Training for the members

INFORMATION ON RESPONDENTS AND THEIR PROPERTIES  -24 of the 26 properties were in full operation; the remaining 2 were still in the planning stage. -All 26 of the properties offered accommodation, 6 of them were working farms and 3 operated in other unspecified sectors.-2 of the 26 businesses were still in the planning stage,13 were run by women and 11 by couples.

 

TRAINING NEEDS

●Business planning and research Currents skills were adequate but training could prove useful. ●Diversification Currents skills adequate but training could prove useful.

TRAINING NEEDS

•Marketing and product development Current skills were adequate; training would be very useful.•Staff management and working with others Adequate to good skills; training would be useful.

TRAINING NEEDS

●Financial management: sourcing finance, cash flow, profit and loss balance sheets. Responses ranged from adequate to good and respondents considered that training would be useful or very useful.●Legal aspects – information on regulations Responses ranged from limited to adequate and respondents considered that training would be very useful. 

Using Computers

•Basic knowledge of Word Ratings of current skill levels ranged from limited to good and respondents considered that training would be either useful or very useful.•Data bases and spreadsheets Skill levels varied between good and very good and the need for training between useful and very useful. 

Using Computers ●E-mail Respondents classified current skill levels as adequate, good or very good and considered that training could be very useful.●Computers and Internet for marketing - websites, search engine positioning Skill levels were between adequate and good; training could be very useful.

Using computers

•Social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter Respondents rated skill levels as low, limited or adequate and believed training could be especially useful.

Rural Tourism Services

•Developing a sustainable rural tourism business   Skill levels from adequate to good; training could be useful •Organizing and conducting alternative leisure activities for tourists Skill levels from limited to adequate; training could be very useful.

Rural Tourism Services

●Developing quality service Skill levels from adequate to good; training could be very useful.●Developing a tourist business which is accessible very useful

Rural Tourism Services

Personal development

•Time planning– balancing family and work.  Skill levels from adequate to good; training could be relatively useful.• Developing self-confidence and working in conjunction with others Skill levels limited, adequate or good; training could be useful or very useful.

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Personal development

●Written communication skills Skill levels good; training could be very useful●Presentation skills Skill levels adequate or good; training could be useful.

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Personal development

•Knowledge of foreign cultures and languages Skill levels limited, adequate or good; training could be useful

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Areas for improvement

•Improving culinary skills and breakfast and dinner services.•Improving language skills especially English and French •Making government authorities more aware of current conditions in rural tourism; awareness levels are currently extremely low.

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Useful training methods

•Combine classroom and on line training for most of the practical courses.•Learn from more experienced colleagues.•Most would like training close to home.

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Developing on line European wide networks of business women

•Twenty of the twenty-six respondents expressed interest but only a few left contact details

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Most interesting issues and discussion topics •Agriculture and ecology •Diversification of the property’s activities - some are incompatible •Marketing and continuing skill development (a number of respondents indicated this area)•Analysis of current regulations •Customer relations and the sustainability of working rural properties.•New marketing techniques, services with market appeal, meeting expectations, quality, professional associations, integral management, economic and social development of rural areas.•Customer profiles, legislation and special offers

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Conclusion: Most useful areas from questionnaire

•Financial management•Legal aspects•Marketing•Using computers (specially useful Facebook…)•Self development: Working in conjunction with others

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