Tourism Marketing

In today's competitive tourism market, it’s not enough to simply have a beautiful website or offer unforgettable experiences. The majority of travelers — over 90% — start their search for vacations and tours online, and if your business isn’t visible in those search results, you’re missing out on potential bookings. That’s where Google Ads comes in

What marketing messages do Millennials respond to best when considering their next travel destination? Learn more about how Eco Africa Digital considered and created the key content pillars for our client (and how you can too).

Discover how Eco Africa Digital targets the right audience for our new sustainable tourism client. Learn why Millennials are key to boosting your online presence and drive bookings with strategic digital marketing.

Africa's Travel Indaba 2024 ended on a high note for Eco Africa Digital this year, and I was thrilled to share insights on "Gearing Towards a Competitive, Integrated, and Sustainable Tourism Industry in Africa" from a digital marketing lens.

As a speaker at the recent Tech & Tourism Conference in Johannesburg, I had the privilege of shedding light on a crucial aspect of modern tourism marketing: leveraging big data analytics to empower travel businesses. In an era where data reigns supreme, the key lies not only in the abundance of information but also in its interpretation.

When it comes to optimising your marketing budget to increase ROI, there is no shortage of DIY guides on the internet. The only catch? Most of them either offer generic one-size-fits-all approaches to marketing regardless of industry or get so technical that you need an MBA just to decipher the content. We’re here to help.

Read on for our definitive guide to increasing ROI through smart marketing, specifically made for the tourism industry and translated from jargon to real talk.

The Salene, nestled amidst Stellenbosch’s best wine farms in the heart of the Devon Valley, needed a brand refresh. Having recently changed owners and rebranded from Zarose, we knew it was important to differentiate this luxury accommodation offering from the many other options in the area. When your competitors all boast stunning scenery, luxurious stays, an incredible location and wedding venues to boot, standing out of the crowd can be a challenge. Our solution? Tell the best story.

With an office based in Stellenbosch, our team of digital marketers for tourism know the winelands, Garden Route and West Coast better than most, but when it comes to Northern KwaZulu-Natal they need 'refreshers' every then and now. Luckily, one of our clients, Isibindi Africa Lodges, invited us to experience their lodges stretching from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Park. Here's how it went:

As leaders in African tourism marketing, Eco Africa Digital researched and compiled a document that highlights the most important travel trends for the African tourism industry for 2021.

These include:

1. Smaller Groups & Privacy
2. Regenerative Travel
3. Bye-Bye 9 to 5: Work Wherever You Want
4. Vital Value: Maximising Travel For Less
5. Flexible Cancellation Terms & Safety
6. Travel Bubbles
7. Preference for Outdoor Experiences
8. Rise in Popularity of Local Travel

2020 looked to be the start of a new decade where tourism would grow exponentially and the industry as a whole would have one of its best years yet, however, nature and COVID-19 had other plans. While we could create, strategise, and put our tried-and-tested tourism marketing methods and skills to effective use and plan for the future, nothing could have prepared us for what lay ahead. Luckily, we found opportunity and a space to test new ideas and push the creative and innovation boundaries. We took something as simple as selling vouchers and turned it into a travel restrictions success story for our client, Mount High Luxury Country House, which is based in Mpumulanga, South Africa.