Top 5 abouTourism Articles for 2011

Right when the year is ready to come to a close, we take a look back at some of our favorite and most read articles in 2011.

During this past year, abouTourism provided insights on destination marketing and the latest advancements, highlighted the latest trends to shape the industry, and shared best practice cases showcasing successful destination strategies.

Let's take a look at the articles that you found the most useful in 2011!

1. Destination Marketing on the Web: Trends, Challenges & Best Practices

2011 is the year that large travel suppliers strengthen their position on the web which means that destination bodies will need to catch up with them and stay relevant. DMOs have already started to swift their attention to online media, largely due to budget cuts and increasing pressure for result measurement. Even though many DMOs want to incorporate social media in their marketing efforts, many face difficulties in determining the best way to proceed, while facing challenges in providing quality information online.

2.DMO Best Practices – Innovative Uses of Social Media

Destination Marketing Organizations around the world have realised the added value of using social media channels to market their destinations and increase awareness. There are certain examples though of DMOs that seem to have “broken the code” coming up with innovative campaigns and other uses of social media channels. A look at a selection of best practices of DMO social media use.

3.Top 20 Vintage Tourism Ads (Parts I & II)

Looking at these vintage posters from destinations all over the world we wonder how much things have actually changed over these past 100 years. Even today, during the online revolution and with the availability of affordable and wide spreading media, you will still find tourism campaigns that rely  just on an inspiring photo and logo to attract international tourists.

4.Tourism Campaigns on Facebook. Like this!

Tourism Ireland was one of the first to get on the travel gamification train, hoping to exploit the phenomenal popularity of social networks by convincing more than 100,000 people to play an Irish-themed Facebook game which it launched on St Patrick’s Day. Tourism Ireland was hoping that playing the game will bring the Irish holiday experience to life for potential visitors – albeit without the rain – and they will be tempted to swap the virtual for the real and come to Ireland to spend hard cash.

5. Top Factors Influencing Destination Choice

We have all realized by now the power of reviews. It is probably a natural shift driven by the information overload that modern consumers have increasingly been facing for the past decades. Reviews and online opinions are essential to consumers in the travel-planning process and recent studies continue to show the trend that wants active social and mobile consumers preferring peer, independent reviews over the traditional channels and marketing campaigns.