Tourism

Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly for Tourists?

January 2, 2010

Do you know how your website looks to travelers using mobile search to find places to visit ? Making our websites mobile friendly is a road we must travel down ourselves if we want tourists to find us easily.

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“You Can’t Miss It”- Giving Rural Tourists Better Directions

September 29, 2009

We’ve all heard it, and probably all said it to others too. Your own town can seem so easy to get around, when it’s what you are accustomed to. When I moved to the mountains of rural western North Carolina 20 years ago and asked for directions practically every day, the phrase I learned to [...]

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Rural Change at the Speed of White Lightning

March 25, 2009

A few weeks ago I mentioned that a vote was taking place in my area as to whether ‘liquor by the drink’ would be allowed and become legal in the ‘downtown’ of my county. Here’s what I said earlier this month: “The choice to sell alcoholic beverages or not is still a controversial one in [...]

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The Experience Seekers

March 22, 2009

The Great Lakes Cruising Coalition is working to get more cruise lines enjoying the Great Lakes, to pull into port and visit their small towns. One of their members posted estimates on the economic impact for each day a cruise ship visits. With just two tourist vessels scheduling 12 stops in one city for 2009, [...]

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Saving Open Space

March 16, 2009

The most powerful argument of all for saving open space is economics. In most states, tourism is the number two industry. Jim Fowler, American Economist

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Last Minute Tourism: Weekend Travelers

March 15, 2009

Rural businesses and small towns that attract large numbers of tourists are re-thinking their strategies this year, as the economy causes everyone to reconsider travel plans. Apparently Americans’ views of corporate greed are even affecting the types of accomodations that travelers choose to stay in: “Group and corporate travel are down considerably at many area [...]

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Farm Visitors are Loyal Customers

March 12, 2009

In Loyalty Programs Engage Our Best Customers AgriMarketing consultant Jane Eckert discusses how farms can use special programs and coupons to reward loyal customers. Jane quotes recent survey data that finds customers who are part of loyalty programs not only buy more, but are 70% more likely to promote you through word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing. You [...]

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Coping With The Modern American Tourist

March 9, 2009

The modern American tourist now fills his experience with pseudo-events. He has come to expect both more strangeness and more familiarity than the world naturally offers. He has come to believe that he can have a lifetime of adventure in two weeks and all the thrills of risking his life without any real risk at [...]

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Tourism Across The Canadian Border

March 8, 2009

Tourism throughout the US is down, but we’re not the only ones. Canadian tourism has seen a decline, too, partly due to the drop in Americans traveling over the border but also because fewer Canadians are traveling. Take a look at how tourism businesses in Canada are being encouraged to plan for tourists who travel [...]