MSc FinTech and Innovation consultancy research: Killarney Now — Anonymous Operator Survey (Part B).

You are invited to take part in a research study examining how tourism businesses in and around Killarney manage bookings, payments, and last-minute availability. The study forms part of an MSc in FinTech and Innovation at Munster Technological University (MTU).

Before deciding whether to participate, please read this Participant Information Leaflet. Take time to consider the information and ask questions if anything is unclear.

The research aims to understand the financial and operational challenges faced by micro and small tourism operators, and to assess willingness to adopt digital tools such as embedded payments and last-minute inventory platforms. Findings will inform an academic dissertation and may be published or presented in aggregated, anonymous form.

You have been invited because you own or work for a tourism-related business operating in or around Killarney (for example accommodation, activities, tours, food and drink, or transport). The researcher is seeking responses from 30 to 50 operators.

No. Participation is entirely voluntary. If you choose not to take part, or if you change your mind before submitting the survey, there will be no disadvantage to you and no need to give a reason.

If you begin the survey but exit before pressing Submit, nothing you have entered will be stored.

After you submit, your answers are recorded anonymously and cannot be withdrawn individually because the study does not collect information that would allow your response to be identified.

You will be asked to complete an anonymous online questionnaire hosted on the Killarney Now website. The survey takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

You will first be asked three screening and consent questions. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria or do not consent, the survey will end without recording any information.

At the end of the survey you may optionally provide an email address if you would like a summary of the research findings. This is not required to participate.

There is no payment or other incentive for taking part. Your responses may help inform research that could benefit local tourism businesses in the longer term.

The study is classified as minimal risk. You will not be asked for sensitive personal data. Some questions ask about your business practices; you may skip optional questions or choose not to participate if you prefer.

Yes. The survey is anonymous at the point of collection. Your name, business name, IP address, browser details, and account information are not stored with your answers.

If you choose to provide an email address for the results summary, it is stored in a separate database table with day-level date precision only, so it cannot be linked back to your survey answers.

Free-text answers may be reviewed before analysis and any identifying details will be redacted manually.

Survey responses are stored on a secure database hosted in the European Union. Access is limited to the researcher and academic supervisor.

Data will be used for the MSc dissertation and may contribute to academic publications or presentations. Only aggregated or anonymised findings will be reported.

In line with the ethics application, all survey data will be destroyed at the conclusion of the study.

The researcher, River James, is also the founder of Killarney Now. This dual role is disclosed openly. Participation is voluntary, carries no commercial incentive, and will not affect any business relationship with Killarney Now. Research findings will be reported honestly whether or not they support the platform.

Researcher: River James (MTU student ID T00202161) — hello@killarneynow.com

Academic supervisor: Dr. Valerie McGrath, Munster Technological University

If you have concerns about this study that you do not wish to discuss with the researcher, you may contact the MTU Human Research Ethics Committee via www.mtu.ie/policies.

This study processes only the information you choose to provide in the survey. Data are collected for research purposes, kept to the minimum necessary, and handled in accordance with GDPR and MTU research ethics requirements.