At MyTravelResearch.com we often see a disconnection between what travellers want and what the travel industry delivers. Destinations obsess about their product or service in a way that customers don’t. They lose sight of the basics and what is important to customers. Perhaps the ultimate basic experience that unites all tourist experiences is the loo.  Yes, toilets, bathrooms, lavatories, restrooms, bogs, dunnies and loos are a constant source of traveller apprehension and must be included in your toilet marketing. Clean, reliable, functioning … [Read more...]

Of late years, the tourism industry has begun changed the way we talk about what we do.  Increasingly, we are talking about the Visitor Economy rather than about tourism. This term hasn’t gone public yet – I still describe my work as tourism to people outside the industry.  Out of context, the phrase can sound a little cold.  It’s been helpful in getting policy makers to understand the value of tourism to both economies and to social capital.  But these important impacts can lack a human face. That’s why we need both to use the phrasing and … [Read more...]

I’ve just finished reading the discussions on a few Tourism Marketing groups on LinkedIn.  The discussions are a fascinating insight into the mindset of the Travel and  Tourism industry and the companies who service it. There are discussions about whether to do trade shows or road shows, the value of content, and the role of brochures vs. online.  In other environments, I am constantly asked about the future of Visitor Information Centres (VICs) or what social media channels are best. … [Read more...]