This story’s digest:

  • Travele犀利士 rs now have more time on their hands to hunt for the perfect vacation and online searches have risen
  • Addressing travelers’ demands can become a challenge with visitor/welcome centers closures and reduced staff
  • A helpful online planning experience can push travel brands even further 

According to data from Google Keyword Planner, searches for “virtual tour” increased 7x times—from 1,300 in February to almost 10,000 in March, when quarantines started around the world. This is big news for the tourism industry and especially destination marketers. DMOs should use this change as an opportunity to recalibrate and ready their business partners for the future. People now have more time on their hands to hunt for the perfect future vacation. Make sure it’s your destination they choose!

The visitor experience starts from the first time potential visitors interact with your brand from the comfort of their homes that goes beyond a traditional video or a 360 image.

Addressing travelers’ demands can become a challenge with visitor/welcome centers closures and reduced staff, but there are still ways to enhance your visitors’ experience, just now we have to use new technology and dynamic and interactive content to provide them with the same level of assistance.

Nothing can replace a friendly face at your Welcome or Visitor Center, however, a helpful online planning experience can push travel brands even further. 

As expected, COVID-19 only accelerated the shift to the way we research travel and it is the responsibility of destination marketers to make sure your content is easy to find and navigate for all visitors including that coveted target audience of millennials. Yep, we had to talk about them too and here is why. 

The future is digital, the future is virtual and while human interactions are currently paused, human experiences will not be. Let ITI Digital’s new Virtual Visitor Center lead your organization into this new chapter of travel services.

Ready to talk? Book a time with our team for a one-on-one conversation.