Below are scans of the Visitor Survey Results for 2004 and 2005. Although the sample size is small (around 1.5 1% of the total visitors) for each year, the results make interesting reading and highlight visitors concerns, expectations and in particular, the reasons for coming to the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. This is part of an on-going mission to find out what people want and think.
The differences found between 2004 and 2005 show that some of the key concerns of 2004 were partially addressed for 2005. This can be seen with 'Suggested Improvements' (Figure 11) where the top issue of 2004 was that there were too many visible police. For the Summer Solstice 2005, there was a conscious decision to reduce this presence because of feedback from this survey. Those still citing 'Too many police' as an issue fell from 16% in 2004 to just 3% for 2005 (from 1st place to 4th place). Similarly, in 2004 the next highest concern was 'Security too tight' with 8%. This had dropped out of the 'Top Ten Suggested Improvements' for 2005, showing that EH had tried to ensure their security staff were briefed not to be so heavy handed.
Concerns that there should be 'More Protection for the stones' rose from 5% in 2004 to 8% in 2005 (from 6th place to 1st place in 'Suggested Improvements' - Figure 11). This may have been due to an increased awareness of the Spiritual Importance of Stonehenge because Figure 7 shows that in 2004 39% of visitors came for a 'Spiritual Experience'; this had risen to 52% for 2005. A further 25% came because it was an 'Unusual Event'.
Another factor which will have increased the desire for a 'Spiritual Experience' (Figure 7) is the increase in numbers of people who declared themselves to be members of one of a number of Pagan Organisations. The top groups appear in Figure 10. In 2004, just 10% declared themselves as 'Pagan' (through pagan federation membership). for 2005, this figure had risen by almost 300% to 29%.
The Conclusions, written by EH can be found from Figure 12 to Figure 15 inclusive.
