Public Confidence in Returning to Events – Survey Results
To better understand how Maritimers feel about returning to events due to COVID-19, Events Nova Scotia and MQO Research conducted a survey. We know that a better understanding of our event environment and public perception of events will help us plan for recovery. We also recognize that public confidence in returning to events was of high interest to many of our stakeholders. The survey was conducted between May 28 and June 9, 2020 and included a sample size of culture-goers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Some of the key highlights include:
- 40% of respondents said they were very likely or likely to attend public sporting events once restrictions were lifted
- It is difficult to predict how one will feel about events so far out as a vaccine tends to be the deciding factor
- Very few are interested in travelling to the US or internationally this year or in 2021
- What respondents miss the most about events is being with friends and family
We learned that males were more comfortable than females in attending events, but that older respondents were less likely to attend events overall, feeling more conservative about attending regardless of what type of event it was. The last key finding was that perceptions tend to shift from week to week depending on what is in the media, and that public comfort evolves constantly and is greatly influenced by the advice of public health officials.
