How To Market Your Tourism Business After Covid-19

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). — Photographer: CDC | Source: Unsplash

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a challenge for businesses across the globe. While it may feel like everything has slowed down, that doesn't mean that your tourism business, attraction, or destination has to stop building brand awareness and marketing. Eventually, we will all recover and resume operating normally. At AAMP Agency, we're the activity & marketing pros, and we want to help your business continue to grow during this time as well as prepare for when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in your area. Keep reading to find out how to market your tourism business after the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Don't Stop Your Marketing Campaigns

When tourism businesses across the globe are halting or changing operations to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it may seem like a quick way to save your business money is to cut all marketing campaigns and budgets. We advise against this because by doing so, you are halting your brand awareness during a time where consumers are online & scrolling through news feeds the most. What we do suggest is that you pivot and readjust your marketing campaigns. Change the tone to be more empathetic & understanding during these stressful times, change your targeting, and even lower your budgeting if need be.

2. Maintain Brand Awareness With Social Media

Continue to maintain your brand with consistent posts on your social media pages. During this time, it may be difficult to gather new content so we recommend taking advantage of reposting user-generated content, incorporating throwbacks, and sharing relevant information.

3. Try To Reschedule

If your tourism business or attraction is accepting bookings but is dealing with last-minute cancellations, try to retain your customers by offering to reschedule. We've written a whole blog about dealing with last-minute cancellations, so check that out here.

4. Self-Guided Or Small Group Tours

The Centers for Disease Control recommends social distancing and gatherings to be less than 10 people. In the tourism industry, we can expect to see consumers wary of large group activities. While creating and focusing on self-guided or small group tours may take some logistical work for your business, these types of tours help limit contact and will appeal to cautious travelers.

5. Promote Local Travel

The travel industry has come to a screeching halt in just a matter of a few months. During this time, a good option is to look closer to home and develop tours that will cater to the locals in your area! Even during a time where there is no crisis, it will still remain as a way for your business to generate extra revenue.

6. Market As A Staycation

Throughout 2020, it is expected that many travelers will avoid traveling abroad and some travelers may not even have the opportunity to travel abroad due to travel restrictions. Because of this, we expect to see an increase in consumers wanting to still feel like they've had a "getaway" but still remain within their area. Once it is safe, local activities and guest houses will be in demand, which is why we suggest investing in promoting local travel now!

7. Early Bird Offers

There is no set date to when it will be safe to resume normal operations, however, we can expect to see travelers making plans for early 2021. Now is a good time to offer early bird offers for later in the year, or even 2021 to start generating a line of revenue.

8. Focus On Fixing What Is Broken

If during this time, your tourism business can only prioritize one thing, we suggest fixing anything that is broken. Create a new site with an optimized booking flow, take this time to create original & engaging ads, re-visit your content strategy, and more. We've written a guide on what tourism businesses should do during the COVD-19 pandemic, so check it out here.

This pandemic and how it has affected businesses is constantly changing, and at AAMP agency we are following the pandemic closely to help tourism businesses, attractions, and destinations around the world continue growing their business during this challenging time. If you have any questions or need help with your digital marketing, the team at AAMP Agency is ready to help! Contact us today.