Sell more tours: How to turn your location into a vacation destination
Uncover five easy ways to bring more visitors to your town and get more bookings in the process.
Your marketing initiatives likely focus on your USPs (unique selling points) — you know, the aspects of your tours and activities that really make your business stand out. While this is a great strategy to bring in bookings, we would like to offer another idea to add to your marketing tool belt: destination marketing.
What makes your city or town special that will draw in more out-of-towners? This blog will show you how to turn your local area into a must-visit destination in order to appeal to more customers.
To access the full article, visit Compass. Simply log in with your FareHarbor credentials to gain access to hundreds of business-building guides.
What Makes for a Must-Visit Destination?
Even if you think your location is not a popular tourist destination, there are plenty of ways to influence the perceived value and quality of your local area. Not every business is located near New York City or Rome — but there are other factors that can bring people to your neck of the woods.
Elements That Make your Location More Appealing:
- Well-known landmarks or buildings
- Historic, religious or cultural sites
- Local community recommendations including lodging, restaurants, and other tours and activity businesses
- Rare wildlife or natural phenomena like the northern lights, bioluminescent bays, or up-close bear sightings
5 Ways to Leverage the Value of Your Location
You know why you love your local area — why not let your customers know too?! Here are a few ways to encourage travelers to come to your neighborhood and grab more bookings in the process.
Research Your Local Attractions and Experiences
There are several resources available if you need inspiration for what’s popular in your area. To start, simply Google your town. Search for “things to do”, “places to go”, “where to eat”, or “famous landmarks” followed by “in [your city/town].”
You can also visit your town’s tourism or visitor info website for ideas. Be sure to pay attention to how they market the area and include those selling points in your own materials.
Get Creative with Your Location USPs
If your business is not located in or near a major city, your destination marketing can become less straightforward. For more niche operators in smaller towns, you might have to get a bit imaginative about what to highlight.
Ask yourself what you find valuable about visiting your location. You are the knowledge holder of your local area, and it’s valuable to use that to your advantage.
Create Compelling Content Across your Platforms
Write blog posts, send email campaigns, or post social media videos featuring different local area spotlights. Use these channels to showcase the beauty, culture, and experiences that are unique to your location.
This content should entice people to visit your area AND book your tours and activities.
Collaborate with Local Businesses
Make it a package deal! Partner with local businesses to boost the popularity of your community. You can promote one another’s businesses onsite and even offer exclusive discounts.
Capitalize on Local Events
If there are nearby festivals, concerts, or fairs that happen throughout the year, use those events’ popularity to drive customers to your business. This angle not only encourages travelers to stay in the area longer to go on one of your tours, but can also get the word out about your business by using the well-known event to your advantage.
Look beyond your own offerings and use what you know about your area to enhance your marketing efforts and attract more customers. And to read all of our suggestions on how to turn your location into a vacation destination, read the full article on Compass.
