By Bruce Dickson, Tourism Development Solutions (TCDS), P.O. Box 19654, Portland, Oregon 97280.
Website: www.developtourism.com Email: tourismsolutions@msn.com
Making yours more user friendly and effective
16 Tips for greater Visitor Center impact
1. Focus on the local insights & recommendations visitors are really seeking.
2. Simplify
and isolate the most appealing messages on your destination.
3. Create and apply an
‘information hierarchy’ for all information presented.
[One that identifies and then features first messages about
those most motivating local experiences & attractions.]
4. Understand the
difference between disseminating information and providing trustworthy, relevant advice. Trust is today's major concern.
Your content focus
5. Never underestimate the tourism power of a stunning visual image.
6. Never underestimate
the visitor impact of an oversize, tourism map.
7. Understand the difference between a standard road map and
a well designed, tourism map - featuring all key points of interest.
8. Understand the most
appealing experiences desired by visitors, and inform them of the most satisfying at your destination.
[Including those representing the best personal ‘value’ to them.]
9. Be prepared to
service any needs or special inquiries from special interest,
niche or ‘minority’ markets.
Your customers and their needs
10. Understand your customers as intimately as possible.
[Develop simple questions to quickly learn who they are &
how to assist, e.g. first time v. repeat visitor – both have different needs.]
11. Reduce, don’t add, to visitors’ information
overload problems and search issues.
12. Create accessible tourism information options that can meet
visitor needs twenty-four (24) hours per day.
Your business focus
13. Place the focus on generating business and not just providing information – e.g. with staff/volunteer training in up-selling.
14. Consider
the merits (and appropriateness) of adopting a
targeted marketing approach that strives to attract more high-spend visitors, in preference
to higher volumes of low-yield visitors.
15. Ensure you have a merchandizing strategy linked to your business goals.
16. If
a 24 hour reservations/booking system does not already exist in a viable tourism destination, make it a priority to gain one that
reliably meets customer needs. Become a 'one-stop shop' as far as possible.
Presentation: An illustrated, in-depth presentation is available on the above issues (and other key aspects of visitor
center operations). TCDS also conducts visitor center assessments.
Tourism and Community Development Solutions (TCDS) are destination development, strategy planning and local development specialists for rural, urban, regional and state tourism.
TCDS have extensive and diverse experience in assisting newly emerging regional destinations and moderately resourced communities & attractions. Special interest tourism strategies (including drive tourism) are a specialty.
TCDS service a broad range of clients including: Tourism Associations and CVBs;
County, State and National government agencies; Cities and Precincts; Visitor information centers; Regional economic
development bodies; Chambers of Commerce; Not for profits; Festivals; Tourism Attractions & Operators.
The TCDS website (www.developtourism.com) provides users with access to a selection of destination, business and marketing development resource
papers. From time to time new material and updates are added for industry use.