Introduction
First: scope stage
Second: Design stage
Third: Organization stage
Fourth: Data collection stage
Fifth: Disaggregation stage
Sixth: Revision stage
Seventh: Publication stage
Eighth: Evaluation stage
Introduction:
For each of its statistical products, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) embraces a standardized methodology that is suitable for that product. In doing so, the Authority depends on the Manual of Statistical Procedures, which goes in line with the internationally approved procedures. Each of GASTAT’s statistical products goes through eight major stages, in addition to a ninth stage having to do with the total ‘management’, as illustrated in the following figure, and the subsequent explanation.
The first three stages (scope, design and organization) are cooperative ones; conducted by GASTAT jointly with the developmental bodies benefiting from its data. Likewise, the fourth stage (data collection) is a cooperative stage conducted by the Authority jointly with the statistical population (households and establishments) to get the data and information. The following three stages (Disaggregation, revision and publication) are purely statistical ones, undertaken by the Authority. Then, the eighth stage (assessment) is conducted jointly with the beneficiaries. ‘Management’ is an organizational/ managerial stage running throughout all previous stages. Those stages have been applied to the Tourism Establishments Survey as follows:
First stage: The scope:
Deemed to be the kick-off stage for producing the Tourism Establishments Survey, this stage is also the first cooperative stage between GASTAT and some other partner bodies, such as the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. This stage involved workshops and meetings between the Authority and these parties, in an endeavor to identify their needs, requirements and expectations, being the foremost beneficiaries of the results of the Tourism establishments Survey. GASTAT has made sure to take the views of those parties, in order to realize the goals of the Tourism establishments Survey, which are:
- Providing indicators that contribute in calculating the Gross Value Added of Tourism Industries.
- Providing data of tourism supply as a requirement for the tourism satellite accounts (TSA) in order to calculate the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added and contribute in the Gross Domestic Product.
- Providing cash statements and metadata on the tourism activities to identify the employment, performance and growth rates of each activity.
- Identifying the labour capacity of each tourism activity and how each activity contributes in generating and localizing jobs in the tourism sector.
- Determining the characteristics of labours in tourism activities, as well as thier compensations including thier salaries, wages, cash and in kind allowences.
- Fulfilling the tourism private sector’s needs of statistical data and information on the diftinct productive activities of tourism.
- Providing national requirements related to tourism supply and tourism establishments which help in monitoring the performance within the goals of National Transformation Program 2020
In this stage, it was also ensured that the published statistics will contribute to fulfilling Vision 2030 as well as cover regional requirements, such as fulfilling the governmental and private sector’s needs of statistical data and information in the tourism field such as: (number of workers, tourism establishments revenues, and operation and performance rates)in addition to other international requirements which can be represented in the regional anad international comparisons, and conducting studies and analyses as the General Authority for Statistics follows the international recommendations in tourism statistics in order to contribute in performance evaluation, policy making, and tourism decision making support. Therefore, data should be comparable over specified periods of time. They should also be comparable regionally and internationally. Economic macrodata should be found to describe the tourism size, and how it contributes directly in economy such as the direct gross value added and the tourism direct gross domestic product, so that they can be compared internationally. Moreover, the tourism economic impacts based on the provided information by the tourism satellite account must be measured.
Second stage: The design:
It is during this stage that a complete design for the statistical product is set forth. During this stage, the statistical population is defined, the statistical framework is outlined, the survey sample is determined, the survey questionnaire is designed, the data collection method and tools are selected, and the sampling units are determined. The beneficiaries are engaged in all processes, and their feedback is taken into account, so that the product would live up to their expectations.
Key outputs of this stage are:
1. Statsitical population:
The targeted statistical population of the Tourism Establishments Survey is made up of all economic establishments in Saudi Arabia that are included in ISIC4, and are associated with the tourism activities.
2. Statistics sources:
The Bulletin’s data are derived from a field survey (the Tourism Establishments Survey) conducted by GASTAT on an annual basis. This survey is categorized under the Tourism Statistics classification. It collects data by visiting a sample that represents the economic establishments in the aforementioned fields in all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. An e-questionnaire is filled out by answering it questions. Through this survey, estimates and indicators related to the Tourism Establishments Survey are provided.
3. Terminology and concepts related to teh Tourism Establishments Survey
3.1. Establishment:
An economic working unit with a legal entity and a fixed location where a specific economic activity is practiced, owned by one or more persons, a company or a semigovernment sector. The establishment is the smallest economic unit that has data on its employees and their financial rewards, in addition to expenditures, income and capital composition.
3.2. Number of employees:
All Saudi and non-Saudi, female or male individuals who work at an establishment, including the owner, partners and staff, whether working full-time, part-time, or temporarily, and whether they receive daily, weekly, or monthly payment or not. This includes partners, members in shareholder companies, board chairmen and members, as well as employees who are on paid leave. The average employee number is calculated based on the total number of employees at the end of each of the calendar years divided by the number of months in a year.
3.3. Professions of employees:
The main type of work done by employees and what they spend most of their working hours on.
3.4. Payable employee compensations :
All periodic payables due to employees by an establishment throughout the year, including wages and salaries for their working hours, fixed bonuses, and different types of allowances and benefits, such as housing, social insurance, insurance, transportation allowance... etc.
3.5. Salaries and wages:
All cash payments owed periodically by an establishment to its employees in return for their normal working hours, in addition to fixed bonuses before any tax deductions, social security contributions, pension payments, life-insurance subscriptions, union fees and other employee obligations.
3.6 Benefits and allowences:
All cash and in-kind payments owed by employers to employees, except salaries and wages, including all types of benefits and bonuses, such as study scholarships, treatment and education payments, payments to the staff’s families, food and transportation allowances, overtime payments... etc.
3.7. Operating expenses:
The value of commodities or services already used by an establishment during the fiscal year to conduct its business, whether bought in the same year or supplied from the stock bought in past years.
3.8. Commodity requirements:
The value of all local and imported commodities used by an establishment, to produce or assemble its products, such as raw materials, stationery, spare parts, fuel, oils, electricity and water costs, and any other commodities necessary.
3.9. Service requirements:
The value of all services used by an establishment in conducting its activities, including post, phone, training, travel and assignment costs, equipment, machine, building and non-agricultural rent, and other costs borne by the establishment, such as legal consultation and third-party services. The types of services must be specified.
3.10. Accomodation:
A place lived in by a tourist temporarily for a charge.
3.11. Tourist:
A person spending at least one night in a place other than their usual abode.
3.12. Types of tourism activities:
Tourism activities include business, recreation, entertainment, visits, education, treatment, shopping and religious activities.
3.13. Available furnished rooms and units:
Furnished rooms available in an accommodation establishment (hotel, hotel apartments, etc).
3.14. Occupied furnished rooms and units:
Sold rooms in an accommodation establishment (hotel, hotel apartments, etc) that have been occupied in a specific time frame (excluding complimentary rooms, booked rooms and no-shows).
3.15. Available beds:
The number of beds available for use in an accommodation establishment (hotel, hotel apartments, etc).
3.16. Guest:
A person checking in and staying at least one night in an accommodation establishment.
3.17. Local guests:
Guests who are permanent residents in the kingdom regardless of nationality.
3.18. International guests:
Guests who are not permanent residents of the kingdom regardless of nationality.
3.19. Rooms revenues:
Revenues generated only by rented or operational rooms (including service charge, and excluding revenues incurred from restaurants and other facilities).
3.20. Other accomodation revenues:
Revenues generated from all activities and facilities in an establishment excluding rooms.
4. Indicators:
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Indicator |
Indicator discerption and calculation formula |
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Percentage of occupation |
=(number of occupied rooms/ number of available rooms) x 100 |
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Average daily price for the room |
Rooms revenues / occupied rooms |
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Revenue for each available room |
Rooms revenues/ available rooms |
5. Adopted classical classification:
Classification is defined as being an arranged set of related categories used for data collection according to similarity. It is the basis for collecting and publishing data in all statistical fields, such as economic activity, products, expenditures, jobs or health, etc. It allows for classifying data and information through putting them into meaningful categories to produce useful statistics, considering that data collection requires precise and methodological arrangement in accordance with their common features so that the statistics can be reliable and comparable. The statistics comply with international standards in their data collection and classification. The industrial production index is subject to the following classification:
National Classification of Economic Activities ISIC 4:
It is a statistical classification that adopts the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) which is the reference classification of all production activities. The purpose of using such classification in the small and medium-sized establishments survey is to specify the main economic activity undertaken by the establishment.
Economic activity is defined as (all business or services that are done or provided by an establishment to achieve financial returns. Establishments sometimes do not receive a return on their business as in the case of charities which rely on donations).
6. Design of Survey’s questionnaire:
The survey questionnaire was drafted and designed by Tourism statistics experts at GASTAT. International recommendations, standards, and definitions were taken into consideration during the design of the questionnaire, which was presented to industrial production experts and specialists, as well as to relevant entities to obtain their insights and comments. Questions were redrafted based on a specific scientific approach aimed at unifying question formats used by researchers
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The questionnaire was divided into sixteen sections according to the topic to increase its efficiency in achieving the technical features of field work stage, which are: |
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Economic activity |
Ownership of the establishment |
Legal entity |
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Financial assets and liabilities by regulatory sector based on the sender and receiver |
Operating expenses (goods and services requirements) |
Workers payable compensation during the year |
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Workers data |
Transfer expenses |
Operating revenues |
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Transfer revenues |
Change in assets and liabilities |
General data |
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Performance and operation |
Electronic services and systems |
Environment of enabling business |
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Environment of business development |
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To view the full version of the questionnaire, please visit GASTAT official website |
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After being approved, the survey questionnaire will be transformed into an electronic questionnaire that can be handled through the advanced data collection system using tablet devices. The system has the following features:
- Reviewing the work zone of the field researcher (survey sample).
- Reaching the sample (establishment) using the map on the tablet device.
- Completing data of highquality using data check rules and navigation (to automatically detect input errors and illogical inputs while the completion of the data is underway).
- Establishing communication between supervising entities by exchanging comments with field researchers.
7. Coverage:
7.1. Spatial coverage:
The survey covers the (13) administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Itcovers the following regions: (Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Eastern Region, Asir, Tabuk, Hail, Northern Borders, Jazan, Najran, Al-Baha and Al-Jouf). Greater importance has been given to cities that contain around 84% of total establishments in the Kingdom and have nearly 91% of total number of employees in the Kingdom. A sample of the establishments in each region was visited in order to ensure that it has been chosen in a scientific way so that the sample would represent all economic establishments in the region.
7.2. Temporal coverage:
It covers the fiscal year that the survey data is based on, and it is usually the fiscal year that precedes the year of survey implementation, that is 2018
8. Statistical framework of Tourism Establishment Survey:
Design of statistical framework plan:
- The updated 2015 census of the 2010 Establishment Census was used as a list containing all population items.
- The lists, maps and analytical standards of the units were set to choose data providers (establishments).
- The required descriptive data were identified in order to create the statistical framework, create the test framework, verify them, and use them for the current survey round.
9. Sample design:
- A perfect plan is designed and documented to choose the sample units from which data will be collected with providing guarantee for obtaining efficient and highly effective estimations. Therefore, the survey population was divided into non-overlapping parts characterized by the homogeneity of their units. Every part is considered a layer, and every layer is treated as an independent population where a random sample would be drawn separately from every layer. At the end, all drawn sampling units will be integrated to form an aggregate sample.
- Choosing the sample units is done on the basis of the 2010 Establishment Census. In order to choose samples for surveys and statistical studies targeting establishments in general, the framework was divided into four categories on the basis of the establishment’s size as follows:
- Micro-establishments: It includes all establishments that have a workforce of 1-5.
- Small establishments: It includes all establishments that have a workforce of 6-49.
- Medium establishments: It includes all establishments that have a workforce of 50-249.
- Large establishments: It includes all establishments that have a workforce of more than 250.
Withdrawing the sample was based on random sampling by using ISIC4 with considering the following points:
- All large establishments shall be included in the sample with 100% importance, due to its effect in the survey’s results.
- All medium establishments shall be included in the sample with 100% importance, due to its effect in the survey’s results.
- Small establishments shall be included in the sample with 75% importance; based on the level of each economic activity.
- Micro establishments shall be selected randomly to reach to the suggested size of the sample.
- Preparing the optimum methodology for selecting sample units with the aim of providing the outputs with the required quality, and minimum burden on the data providers, using the methods of rotation and interference monitoring.
- Determine the metadata required to apply the statistical framework, and allocate and select the sample
- Test and evaluate the sample, validate it and approve its use in the current project frequency
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Sampling units of Tourism Establishments Survey: Enumeration areas are the primary sampling units, which were selected in the first stage of the survey sampling design. On the other hand, establishments are the secondary and final sampling units, which were selected in the second stage of the survey sample design. Each secondary sampling unit is part of the primary sampling units. |
Third stage: Organization:
It is the final preparation stage and precedes data collection. In this stage, the required workflow procedures are established for preparing the bulletin, starting with the collection stage and ending with the assessment stage and the organization and grouping of those procedures. The optimal sequence of those procedures is chosen to arrive to a methodology that achieves the goals of the survey bulletin. A review was made in this stage of the procedures that were taken upon the preparation of the previous version of the survey bulletin to develop the work procedures in the current version. Those procedures were also described and documented to facilitate any updates in future rounds. The statistical workflow procedures were tested and examined to ensure their compliance with the requirements of preparing the small and medium-sized establishments survey bulletin in its final form, approve the procedures of the statistical workflow, and develop a roadmap for implementation.
This stage is marked by testing the efficiency of the input systems, synchronizing and reviewing the survey data by using tablets or desktops.
Fourth stage: Data collection:
First: The survey sample was chosen through identifying (6717) establishments as a selected sample that represents the survey population at the level of the Kingdom and is distributed among the thirteen administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Second: The workers, who were nominated as field researchers and visited the establishments to collect data, were chosen on the basis of several practical and objective criteria related to the nature of work, such as:
- Educational level.
- Fieldwork experience.
- Personal attributes, such as: good conduct, evidence of senses and physical and psychological fitness.
- Candidate’s success in the training program of the finance and insurance survey.
- The candidate shall not be under the age of 20.
Third: All candidates (GASTAT staff and collaborators from some government entities) were qualified and trained through special training programs as follows:
- A training program was held for expert staff members in GASTAT’s headquarters for one week.
- Similar training programs were held for collaborating inspectors, observers, and researchers from all the regions of Saudi Arabia.
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The training programs offered to field researchers tasked with collecting the survey data include: Practical and hands-on lectures on technical, technological, administrative, and awareness materials that are used in data collection processes. Field researchers are also introduced to the survey’s goals, the data collection method, and how to use maps and reach the holdings. The training programs also include a detailed explanation of all questions on the questionnaire, as well as any technical and administrative tasks. Field researchers are also trained on how to deal with the public and how to ask the questions in record time. |
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At the beginning of the training program, all trainees are provided with tablet devices that enable them to do the following:
Staff members are nominated to participate in the survey based on their results that are automatically obtained from the “Trainees’ Automated Assessment System” to guarantee promptness, precision, and impartiality upon appointing the candidates and their competences. |
Fourth: Completing the survey questionnaire and collecting data were done through direct contact. Field researchers used the coordinates and guiding maps on their tablets to visit all establishments in their work areas. Once on the site, the researchers introduced themselves, showed official documents, proving their identity and affiliation with the data collection project, explained the purpose of the visit, and provided an overview of the survey and its objectives. Next, researchers filled in the electronic questionnaires by collecting verbal answers from owner of the establishment or any official who is familiar with its affairs.
Fifth: researchers used tablets to complete the survey questionnaires according to timeframes specified for navigating the survey sections.
Sixth: researchers in all work locations in the Kingdom used the synchronization feature available on the tablets, in order to directly transfer the collected data to the relevant database at GASTAT’s headquarters, where they are stored for later review and processing.
Seventh: auditing rules are applied to ensure the consistency, accuracy, and logic of the data collected. These electronic rules detect answer discrepancies, as they are built by creating logical relationships between questionnaire answers and variables, to help field researchers detect any error directly while completing questionnaires with the official in charge of data provision.. These rules do not allow answers if they contradict another information or answer in the questionnaire.
Eighth: The accuracy of the collected data was verified by the field researchers, their inspectors, and the survey supervisors in the supervision areas. All work areas were subjected to a monitoring and reviewing process by the Data Quality Room at GASTAT’s headquarters, which also controls and monitors the performance of all working groups in the field during the data collection process, from the first to the last day.
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Data Quality Room: The Data Quality Room is an operations room that works simultaneously with the survey field work. It is equipped with electronic monitoring tools and tracking screens used by supervisors and quality experts to review data consistency and detect errors and outliers during the field data collection, by immediately monitoring the collected data by field researchers. The Data Quality Room verifies that researchers follow survey instructions; ensures that the data are logical, correct, and reliable; and reviews some important survey indicators to ensure data accuracy. The main tasks of the Data Quality Room include the following:
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During this stage, raw data are disaggregated based on the classification and coding inputs completed during the data collection process, National Classification of Economic Activities (ISIC4), or any other classification or coding such as distributing data at the level of administrative region. Data were displayed in appropriate tables to facilitate its summarization, comprehension, and results extraction. Also, to compare them with other data and extract statistical meanings for the study community. It is also easier to check tables without the need to see the original questionnaire, which usually includes data like names and addresses of establishments, and names of data providers, which violates data confidentiality of statistical data.
Specialists of Tourism Statistics Department have processed and analyzed data in this stage. This step was based on the following measures:
- Sort and arrange data in groups or different categories in a serial order.
- Summarize detailed data into main points or main data.
- Link between many parts of data and make them connected.
- Process incomplete or missing data.
- Process illogical data.
- Convert data into statistically significant data.
- Organize, display and interpret data.
“Data anonymization” is one of the most important procedures. To keep data confidential, GASTAT removed personal data such as: name and address of establishments and other personal data to maintain individuals’ privacy.
Sixth stage: Revision:
First: Data Outputs Validation:
After processing the collected data of the Tourist Establishments Survey, all the outputs are stored and uploaded to the database after being calculated by GASTAT to be reviewed and processed by specialists of Tourist Statistics through using modern technologies and software designed for this purpose.
Second: Handling confidential data:
According to the Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07-12-1397, data must always be kept confidential, and must be used by GASTAT only for statistical purposes. Therefore, the data are protected in the data servers of the Authority.
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Disclose of any data of establishments is not allowed under any circumstances. It is worth mentioning that the publications are statistical tables at the level of Saudi Arabia and its administrative regions and main cities. |
Seventh Stage: Data Publication:
First: Preparation of Results for Publication:
In this stage, GASTAT downloaded the results from the database of the Tourist Establishments Survey. Next, it prepared tables and charts of data and indicators, and added the metadata and methodology as they appear in this Bulletin, in both English and Arabic.
Second: Preparation of Media Materials and Announcement of the Bulletin’s Publication Date:
GASTAT already announced the Bulletin’s publication date on its official website at the beginning of the year. In this stage, GASTAT prepares media materials to announce the Bulletin’s publication on various platforms, including social media. GASTAT then publishes the bulletin on the defined date on its website using different formats, such as open data in Excel files, to ensure easy dissemination and access for all clients and anyone interested in tourist statistics. The Bulletin is also uploaded to the website’s statistics library.
Third: Communication with Clients and Bulletin Dissemination:
GASTAT believes in the importance of communicating with the clients who use its data. Therefore, once the Tourist Establishments Survey Bulletin is released, GASTAT communicates with the clients and provide them with the bulletin. GASTAT receives the questions and enquiries of the clients about the Bulletin and its results through the following channels:
- GASTAT’s official website: www.stats.gov.sa
- GASTAT’s official email: info@stats.gov.sa
- Client support email: cs@stats.gov.sa
- GASTAT’s headquarters in Riyadh or one of its branches in the country.
- Official letters.
- Statistical phone: (920020081)
Fourth: Preservation of the Published Content:
To ensure that the contents of the publication are preserved for long periods of time, the Documents and Archives Center at the Authority preserves and archives the published data to be used as a reference at any time.
Eighth stage: Evaluation:
After the Bulletin is released and received by all GASTAT’s clients, the clients are contacted again in this stage which allows for assessing the whole statistical process that was carried out, with the aim of constant improvement to obtain high-quality data. The improvements may include: methodologies, processes, systems, statistical researchers’ skill and statistical frameworks. This stage is done in collaboration with data users and GASTAT’s clients through a number of steps:
First: Collection of Measurable Evaluation Inputs:
In this step, the most important comments and notes are collected and documented from their sources in different stages, for example comments and notes given by data collectors and their field supervisors as well as data providers. In addition, notes written by specialists responsible for reviewing, auditing and analyzing data collected either from field or administrative records. Finally, comments and notes collected and documented by data users after publishing the data. Comments of clients indicated in different media means are also considered .
Second: Evaluation:
Collected assessment inputs were analyzed, and the results of this analysis were compared with pre-anticipated results. Accordingly, potential improvements and solutions were identified and discussed with experts and concerned parties. In this stage, the performance of clients’ use of the results of the Tourist Establishments Survey is measured. Based on that, recommendations are developed to enhance the quality of the results of the next Tourist Establishments Survey.
It is a comprehensive stage required to carry out each phase of Tourist Establishments Survey production. During this stage, the plan of production is developed, which includes the feasibility study, risk management, financing methods, in addition to expenditure mechanisms. The plan also covers the development of performance indicators, quality criteria, and manpower map required for production. Through this plan, the implementation process of the tasks assigned to different departments at each stage will be reported to ensure that GASTAT meets its clients’ requirements.
