Information Sheet and Informed Consent Student Research Project for the Subject: Applied Market Research (MKT5AMR) 2017 Project Title: Responsible Tourism Name of Lecturer: Dr. Marthin Nanere Description of the Research Project: Seven Women is a social enterprise that has economically and socially empowered over 5000 women out of poverty through literacy, skills training and income generation over the past 10 years (www.sevenwomen.org). One of the ways in which, seven women has been able to develop into a sustainable organisation, is to have supporting businesses which bring tourists to the centre. Hands On Development is a Tour company that has been created by the Founder of Seven Women. It leads immersion tours into the hearts and lives of the Nepalese people and gives access to some very unique experiences such as visiting a slum, a fair trade factory, and organisations focussing on a number of different issues including trafficking and Fred Hollows eye hospital. Hands On Development Tours gives participants an opportunity to have life enriching travel experiences that are off the tourist trail and transformative and empowering for both the locals and participants (handsondevelopment.com.au). Hands on development tours visit seven women as part of their itinerary where people participate in cooking classes led by the women, fair trade prayer flag making classes, and basic Nepali for travellers’ classes. The visit to seven women is an example of how Hands on Tours create connection and opportunities of empowerment as the women build confidence in skills such as training and teaching visitors, which prepare them for employment in areas of hospitality and manufacturing. The tours have been running for 5 years. Initially the Founder had students in mind, but as the tours are open to everyone, a lot of middle-aged women were applying. The target market are now two groups including (1) Middle aged women (45- 60) and (2) Students (18-30). Hands on Development needs your help to understand the target market (their needs and desires) to properly target the tours with effective marketing materials, copy and a new website that capture what these two main groups are looking for. A marketing strategy is also needed. The tours are targeted towards females. Some of the questions include: Each student will administer the questionnaires. Please take time to respond to the questions which should take about 5 - 10 minutes to complete. The information collected from this survey may be published in a seminar or forum. However, this information will be kept confidential at all times. As the results will be discussed and explained in aggregate formats, individual information will be kept confidential. If you wish to at any time discontinue this survey please do so, as you reserve the right to discontinue at any time without penalty. Your agreement to participate in this survey constitutes your informed consent as to the aim of the survey and how the information will be utilised. Since the survey is confidential, no personal data will be available and informed to the participants. Any questions regarding this project may be directed to Dr. Nanere at 5444 7952 or [email protected]. If you have any complaints or concerns about your participation in the study that the researcher has not been able to answer to your satisfaction, you may contact the Senior Human Ethics Officer, Ethics and Integrity, Research Office, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086 (P: 03 9479 1443, E: [email protected]). Please quote the application reference number E16-088. We thank you very much for your participation in this research project and survey.