Today, many attraction operators capture much of the local market. However, attracting more out-of-town guests can be challenging even for operators with venues within a reasonable distance of a significant tourism market. However, capturing these guests is paramount when ramping up business growth.
With the right strategies, you can drive more footfall to your venue without breaking the bank. In this article, we'll explore nine affordable ways to attract tourists and enhance their experience at your attraction venue.
1. Optimize your online presence
A strong online presence is essential for attracting tourists in the digital age. Ensure your website and checkout experience is user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimized for search engines.
Invest in search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve your website's visibility and make it easier for potential visitors to find you online.
Read this next: 4 Ways Your Venue Can Increase Online Sales
2. Leverage social media
Engage with your target audience by maintaining active social media accounts.
Share captivating content, such as stunning visuals, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and user-generated content. Interact with your followers, promptly respond to comments and messages, and run social media campaigns to increase your venue's visibility.
3. Enhance the guest experience
Delight your visitors by focusing on the guest experience. Train your staff to provide exceptional customer service, ensuring visitors feel welcomed and attended to throughout their visit. Pay attention to cleanliness, accessibility, and comfort to create a positive and memorable experience for your guests.
Better yet, use a guest experience feedback tool to gather this data for you, so all you have to do is check in regularly to see what is working for your guests and where and how your venue can improve the guest experience.
Read this next: How To Use Guest Feedback To Grow Your Business
4. Offer personalized offers and product bundles
Tailor your offerings to meet the diverse preferences of your audience.
Create personalized offers and product bundles that combine multiple attractions or experiences at a discounted price. This approach increases the perceived value and encourages visitors to explore more of what your venue has to offer.
Learn more about how the ROLLER platform can enable your venue to add discounts to bookings and sell groups of products at discounted rates using packages.
5. Make online booking effortless
Simplify the online booking process for potential guests. Your venue has only a few seconds of your potential guests' attention when they click on your site. If they become confused, uninterested, or just do not like what they see within the first few seconds, they will be unlikely to stay on your page any longer.
Ensure your website has a user-friendly booking system that is easy to navigate, provides clear information about availability and pricing, and accepts multiple payment methods. Streamline the process to minimize friction and increase the likelihood of conversions.
ROLLER’s progressive checkout is specifically designed to provide captivating and engaging online user experiences, and it also includes ROLLER’s native payments processor, ROLLER Payments which accepts 38 different payment types and has a payment authorization rate of 94.5%!
6. Collaborate with local businesses
Form strategic partnerships with local businesses to leverage their customer base and extend your reach.
Cross-promote each other's offerings through joint marketing campaigns, co-branded initiatives, and referral programs. This collaboration can help attract tourists who may not have been aware of your venue.
7. Encourage guest reviews and testimonials
Positive reviews and testimonials are vital in building trust and attracting tourists.
Encourage visitors to leave reviews on TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Google. Respond to positive and negative reviews promptly and professionally, showcasing your commitment to customer satisfaction.
Learn more about using ROLLER’s guest experience score to help your venue attract more guests and unlock revenue growth through guest satisfaction here.
8. Host special events and promotions
Organize special events, seasonal promotions, or themed experiences to create a sense of excitement and exclusivity. This strategy is excellent in attracting new guests and tourists while enticing previous guests to return to your venue for the special occasion.
Capitalize on holidays, festivals, or local celebrations to offer unique experiences that attract tourists seeking memorable moments.
9. Develop partnerships with travel agents and tour operators
Forge partnerships with travel agents and tour operators to increase your attraction venue's visibility among their customer base.
Offer special packages or incentives exclusive to their clients. By working together, you can tap into established distribution channels and reach a broader audience of potential tourists.
ROLLER’s integration with Groupon helps to do just this for your venue. Groupon provides ROLLER customers with a significant platform/ market presence to further sell their products and offerings. This partnership allows customers to appeal to wider audiences and maximize capacity and sales.
Attracting tourists doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive
Attracting tourists to your attraction venue doesn't have to drain your budget. By implementing these ten affordable strategies, you can captivate visitors, enhance their experience, and drive more traffic to your venue.
Building a solid online presence, providing exceptional customer service, and encouraging guest reviews and testimonials are vital elements of a successful attractions marketing strategy for regular guests and tourists alike. By investing time and effort into these areas, you can attract tourists and make your venue a must-visit destination.
Learn more about how ROLLER's innovative all-in-one venue management software can help your attractions venue increase conversions, operational efficiency, and revenue, and reduce business risk, here.
