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For hospitality workers like you understanding that a lot of types of tourism exist is crucial to promoting your accommodation and your area in the right way. It’s as important to know who is your targets and buyer personas are in order to build the perfect strategy to attract them.
Having an awareness of the different types of tourism available in your area will in turn give you ideas about promoting those activities and also to whom you need to address your advertising.
In this article I will:
· Briefly explain the differences between the 3 macro-areas when it comes to different types of tourism – inbound, outbound and domestic
· Give you a list of the most common types of tourism
· Provide some tips that will help you to attract clients while enhancing the most attractive aspects of your area and your accommodation.
You will find some specific tips for each type of tourism in each paragraph and at the end, more general tips, applicable to every kind of tourism.
What are the 3 main types of tourism?
What is inbound tourism?
Inbound tourism is the golden egg-laying goose of the tourist industry. It’s when people come from their own countries to visit and spend their foreign currency on tours and accommodations. While it may not be strictly sustainable – just ask the seaside spots in 2020 – this type of tourism is as vital a part of the tourism industry as suitcases. Without it popular destinations like Italy, Paris, and New York are just cities. If you want to boost your local economy and your own financial well-being by default then you want as much inbound tourism as possible.
What is domestic tourism?
With the pandemic making international travel a challenging prospect citizens are choosing to explore their own nations instead. Not only is domestic tourism cost-effective, but it also allows travellers to explore landscapes or historical sites that they may have overlooked before.
And let’s not forget the joy of experiencing your own culture and community all the while indulging in food tourism that reminds you of your grandmother’s cooking. These are the kinds of experiences that create lasting memories and make travellers want to come back for more giving you the possibility to gain your guests’ loyalty – an authentic blessing when it comes to direct bookings and revenue in general.
What is outbound tourism?
Outbound tourism refers to the activity of people traveling outside of their country of residence for the purpose of tourism. It involves booking tours, reserving accommodations, and spending money on various tourist activities in a foreign country. Outbound tourism is a significant part of the tourism industry and can have a significant impact on the economies of both the traveler’s country of residence and the destination country.
Which types of tourism are popular?
1) Health and wellness tourism
This type of tourism is gaining more and more popularity with the general societal increase in concerns over mental health.
Health and wellness tourism refers to a type of travel where individuals seek to improve their physical, mental, or emotional well-being through various activities and experiences. This can include visiting destinations that offer health and wellness programs, such as yoga retreats, spas, or wellness resorts, or engaging in activities like hiking, meditation, or nutrition workshops. The focus of this type of tourism is on promoting personal health and well-being, rather than simply sightseeing or entertainment.
Marketing tips for health and wellness tourism
If you have a spa or your hotel is close to the mountains, for example, you should promote those particular characteristics by speaking about them on your website by way of a blog article or speaking out about all the benefits your amenities and those of your surrounding area can give to anyone looking for relaxation and simply a break.
You could also publicise a special offer on social media or your website for the World Mental Health Day.
2) Countryside tourism
This one is exactly what it says on the tin. Travellers visit remote areas in order to get a taste of something simpler – often for cheaper than anything is available in the big city.
This type of tourism isn’t as rooted in tours or tourist attractions so much as others. It is more concerned with the the visitor experience. It’s about escaping from one’s usual environment and experiencing life as other people live it, away from the noise of the hoi polloi.
Oftentimes, countryside tourism is about experiencing an event as opposed to seeing some great thing or exploring some particular environment. These types of events are listed by Unesco – the united nation world tourism collective – alongside famous buildings and cities, so you know we’re serious.
Marketing tips for countryside tourism
This type of tourism it’s also called rural tourism and it’s a great for guest houses and B&Bs in particular. People love to taste ancient flavours and breath clean air in a pure background. Be sure to broadcast every detail on your website and on your social media posts. Convey closeness from texts to photos. Do you have a pet running around the property? Show it off! Do you have funny family stories that happened on the property? Tell them. Do you have a small vegetable garden or a garden? Take photos and post them on social media. Do you provide bikes? Well, what are you waiting for to post it on social media or give discounts to your loyal customers?
3) Business tourism
This type of tourism involves travelling to different locations to attend to business issues or work. In business tourism, individuals still work according to their regular schedule, but the difference is they are doing it away from their typical workplaces. Examples of activities that happen in business travel include attending seminars, trade fairs, meetings, conferences – that kind of thing. Business tourism doesn’t involve tours, per se, but it does involve booking into a hotel and eating and spending money in the local community and so it appears on this list.
Marketing tips for business tourism
A great idea? Keep up to speed with all the trade fairs and events in your city and in your area. As a general rule it is important to have a comprehensive vision of everything happening in your area and to use whatever there is from one week to the next to favourably augment your Occupancy Rate.
Needless to say – if you have a conference room in your structure you should make this element evident on your website, giving all the information that an organiser might need from prices to numbers of seats to the possibility of adding a buffet.
4) Food tourism
Speaking of buffets – there anyone who doesn’t love good food? Many tourists simply follow their taste buds and choose their holiday destinations based on the things they want to eat.
Popular destinations for food tourism include Italy, Spain, France, and Japan and if you’re in any one of these destinations or a particular location that’s known for nice food that I haven’t named just make sure your marketing includes a picture of whatever’s local and delicious. It’s what I call “a delicious type of tourism“
Marketing tips for food tourism
Share tips on places to eat local food, take vineyard tours and “foody” entertainment like that. You can partner with a local chef or workshop to teach how to prepare a local delicacy. Make upselling your workhorse with local delicacies and make deals with local restaurants to offer discounts to your customers (discounts, needless to say, must be well publicised).
5) Sports tourism
Sports tourism is a type of tourism that involves attending sporting events or participating in sports activities. As a hotelier, sports tourism presents an opportunity to attract a specific kind of traveller and to increase occupancy during periods of high demand.
Sports events, such as marathons, golf tournaments, and international sporting competitions, can draw large numbers of visitors to a destination. These travellers often require accommodations, making hotels a key part of the sports tourism industry.
Marketing tips for sport tourism
Be sure to be always aware of all the sports event in your city and even in your area at large. Sometimes a good price can convince people to sleep in a nearby location. Be smart and play always with dynamic pricing to have always a competitive price. Amenitiz PriceAdvisor gives you the possibility to set competitive prices compared to your competitors and your past demand, to always have a high occupation rate.
Advertise always when you can offer specialised services and amenities, such as early breakfast options for athletes, secure storage for sports equipment, and fitness facilities. These services can help to differentiate a hotel from its competitors and attract sports tourists.
6) Wildlife tourism
Wildlife tourism is a growing industry that involves travelling to natural areas to observe and interact with wildlife. This can include activities such as birdwatching, whale watching, and safaris. Hotels located near national parks or other protected areas can also benefit from wildlife tourism, as these areas are often home to a wide variety of animals that tourists may want to see.
Marketing tips for wildlife tourism
Maybe it’s superflous to say, but these kinds of protected areas are a treasure chest and should be the core or a great part of your regular communication plan.
Hotels that offer special packages or activities related to wildlife tourism can also benefit from this trend. For example, a hotel located near a national park might offer guided hikes or safaris led by experienced naturalists. This can be a great way for tourists to get a closer look at the local wildlife and learn more about the animals and their habitats.
7) Religious tourism
Religious tourism is a type of tourism that involves visiting religious sites and participating in religious activities. This can include travelling to places of worship, such as churches, temples, and mosques, as well as participating in religious festivals and pilgrimages.
Religious tourism is popular all around the world, and many people engage in this type of travel for a variety of reasons. Some people travel for religious reasons, such as to participate in a pilgrimage or to visit a holy site. Others may be interested in learning more about different religions and the role they play in different cultures. Some examples are “el camino de Santiago” or temples in India or Thailandia.
Marketing tips for Religious tourism
If your accommodation is close to a spiritual area then it’s better to know everything related to the religious events inside out that take place there and think about some promotion and informational service you can do about, so you will be able to give them a money advantage and a value.
General Marketing tips: use different types of tourism to attract customers
Have a website: show which the types of tourism people can do in your area
A website is a powerful tool to showcase your property and all the amenities that you can provide to your guests. At the same way you can show to all travellers, who found looking for a experience and an accommodation what your area can offer so, what type of tourism they can do, spending time in your structure.
You can create a Blog and share informations regularly about activities, curiosities, etc. It’s truly a great way to bring traffic to your website that you can convert in clients easily, thanks to an Integrated Booking Engine.
To bring more people on your website, better create an account to become part of Google Hotel, and appear in Google Search and Google Maps.
Social Media: a game for everyone
Everyone uses social media nowadays. From Facebook to TikTok it has a great ability to engage all age ranges. In the hotel industry, social media is used by travellers to research the best places to visit, the best location and customer reviews. Consequently, every hotel or tourist establishment should have a strong social media presence to outperform the competition. One can give information, share photos, post offers, show the best reviews of loyal customers, etc. etc. If your area offers regular sporting events or beautiful rural surroundings then make sure you show these off from different angles regularly.
Don't be shy about asking for reviews
Happy clients are happy to share their feelings about you and their experience on your property. Often they’ll do it independently but certainly not always so don’t miss an opportunity to have a good reviews on social media just because you are afraid to ask.
It’s easier than you think. Ask for a Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor reviews with a little card or email. Offer a sweet treat or a local product or simply share with them the positive effect such a small favour can have.
Partner with local businesses and attractions
Partnering with local businesses and attractions can provide added value to guests and help hotels stand out. For example, a hotel might offer discounts to local attractions or partner with a nearby spa to offer special packages. Talk about these offers regularly on your website and on your social media pages.
FAQ: Know more about different types of tourism
What is the difference between travel and tourism?
In the most basic terminology, travel refers to the act of moving and tourism is travel with an organised purpose. Broken down into usable pieces, travellers are people who prefer to avoid things like tours and package trips in favour of spontaneity. Many people will think it preferable to book in at the nearest establishment whenever they feel like sleeping and not only are these people unlikely to form part of your base but they won’t provide data that’s very usable.
Tourism, on the other hand, comes in several shapes and sizes – though you’re more than likely only interested in the types that involve an overnight stay.
What is the most popular type of tourism?
It is difficult to say what the most popular type of tourism is, as this can vary depending on factors such as location, time of year, and personal interests. However, some of the most popular types of tourism include beach vacations, city breaks, cultural and historical tourism, and nature and wildlife tourism.
What is sustainable tourism?
Sustainable tourism is a type of tourism that seeks to minimise its negative impact on the environment and local communities, while also supporting the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. It involves travelling in a way that respects the local environment and culture and supports the well-being of the local people.
Sustainable tourism aims to minimise its environmental impact by promoting the use of clean and renewable energy sources, reducing waste and pollution, and conserving natural resources. It also seeks to minimise its impact on local communities by promoting economic benefits for the local people and supporting the conservation of cultural heritage.