A final report is due in about two weeks. The findings are important because they impact a variety of issues, from sales-tax projections to how much the county may spend on roads.

According to the survey, 47% of hotel guests visiting the county are on vacation while 31% are on business. Another 17% are come here for a convention.

Yet, 70% of those surveyed at the county's John Wayne Airport were business flyers and only 14% were tourists. Conventioneers accounted for 7%.

The heavy concentration of tourists is one reason why many of the county's roads are often jammed with cars. The survey found that the typical tourist takes about seven car trips a day, while business travelers take only four.

The Transportation Authority's survey was conducted by Applied Management & Planning Group, a consulting firm based in Los Angeles. The firm surveyed 3,113 guests at Orange County hotels and campgrounds, 1,028 people at John Wayne Airport and 236 at Knott's Berry Farm last spring.