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Kiama, a beautiful destination near Sydney, Australia with a comprehensive storytelling and destination marketing plan.

Storytelling for Sustainable Destinations & Tourism Marketing

Written by Christos Anastasiou on December 1, 2023. Posted in Blog.

In the dynamic landscape of 21st-century tourism, the forces of climate change, social media, and a major post-pandemic travel resurgence are shaping the industry. As such, the significance of storytelling in sustainable destination and tourism marketing has never been greater.

The art of storytelling now stands as a pivotal tool in captivating the hearts and minds of travelers. Every destination harbors a unique narrative, yet not all have mastered the art of narrating it effectively. To craft a compelling marketing campaign for your tourism offerings, one must delve into the profound craft of storytelling marketing.

What is storytelling in sustainable destination and tourism marketing?

At Solimar International, we have elevated storytelling to an art form and a passion. With a global portfolio of projects, we are dedicated to developing, managing, and promoting sustainable tourism destinations.

Our approach transcends conventional content marketing, forging emotional connections that bind audiences to the destination. It involves crafting a narrative that weaves together the destination’s history, culture, and community through engaging anecdotes and stories that resonate with travelers.

A destination rich in compelling stories stands poised to reap the rewards of increased footfall, expenditure, and profitability. The challenge, however, lies in the fact that many Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) excel in content marketing and optimizing the marketing mix. However, they often overlook this deeper connection.

Technical aspects like segmentation and search engine optimization are important, but they work even better when combined with storytelling techniques.

To make a successful tourism content marketing campaign, remember these four essential elements of storytelling skills:

Creation and maintenance of a consistent narrative and brand.
Illumination of knowledge that fosters interest, reliability, and relatability to the destination.
Celebration of distinctiveness and noteworthiness of the destination.
Brand connection from the heart and engagement through emotion.

Creation and maintenance of a consistent narrative and brand.

A place needs a clear brand and identity that stays consistent across all aspects of marketing. Marketing messages should consistently communicate the destination brand through memorable points of discussion, such as personal or collective stories. These stories promote the destination brand on a deeper level, creating greater engagement, reputation, and conversion.

Sustainable tourism marketing strategy example: Blue Mountains

Earlier this year, I went to my favorite destination, the Blue Mountains, near Sydney, Australia. I admired the local community’s work and Blue Mountains Tourism‘s efforts to establish a consistent story and brand for the area. This brand focused on community and ecotourism despite being impacted by devastating bushfires in 2019-2020.

The storytelling narrative of community strength and grassroots sustainability was integral in the positioning of their tourism branding. For example, local groups collaborated to promote tourism and obtained certification from Ecotourism Australia, Australia’s ecotourism accreditation body.

You can sense their strong connection to the area when you talk to locals or visit local businesses in the mountains. Their passion for the Blue Mountains inspired me to join their cause. Indeed, the destination’s brand reflects the love and care for storytelling through mesmerizing natural, sustainable ecotourism experiences in the region.

Wentworth Falls in the pristine Blue Mountains, an Ecotourism certified sustainable tourist destination. The blue mountains has a great tourism storytelling and destination marketing strategy. — Photograph of Wentworth Falls in the pristine Blue Mountains, an Ecotourism certified sustainable tourist destination (Photo Credit: Christos Anastasiou).

Illumination of knowledge that fosters interest, reliability, and relatability to the destination.

Many of the destinations that Solimar International works with are still in the early stages of building their tourism industries. Many of these destinations are still unknown to most individuals, let alone as a candidate for their next adventure.

Education can clear up misconceptions and can inform people of the opportunities that exist that they may not be aware of. For example, many people are probably unaware of the beautiful destinations within Liberia, such as Libassa Ecolodge.

Good storytelling boosts a destination’s reputation, dependability, and interest in its products and services, opening new opportunities. Storytelling also displays how certain tourism experiences and brands are accessible to everyone, not just select groups of people. Hence, they may feel more likely to have a connection to, and thus purchase a holiday to the destination.

Sustainable tourism marketing strategy example: Liberia

Speaking of Liberia, Solimar International’s Liberia Conservation Works project captivates the importance of sharing knowledge in storytelling. The project involves strategic content creation that educates the public on the beautiful places, cuisines, and activities to do in Liberia.

The beautiful Libassa Ecolodge, a sustainable tourism hotspot in Liberia. Solimar International is currently implementing sustainable tourism storytelling in their destination marketing strategy in Liberia. — The beautiful Libassa Ecolodge, a sustainable tourism hotspot in Liberia (Photo Credit: Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT))

The project empowers Liberian communities and individuals to share their stories with the world. This will make people trust Liberia as a tourist spot and know about its interesting places. It builds trust and encourages people to add Liberia to their travel experience list and plan a trip to the country.

Celebration of distinctiveness and noteworthiness of the destination.

How often do you open your social media platforms? Do you often see aesthetically pleasing photographs of picturesque scenery or luxury hotels? Are they posted for engagement and popularity? These photos are crucial in any content or influencer marketing campaign, but on the surface, they are very common.

A good storytelling tourism campaign tells stories that highlight what makes a place special compared to others, to create meaningful written and visual content. It will also highlight the destination’s known highlights and idiosyncrasies. You can read a great example here by Thomas Kalchik, another blogger here at Solimar International.

Kalchik’s skillful storytelling beautifully captures the allure of Capurganá, Colombia, elegantly blending vivid descriptions of its unique biodiversity and stunning scenery with the positive impacts of tourism. This narrative sets Capurganá apart as a distinct ecotourism destination, inviting readers to envision an immersive and transformative vacation experience in this hidden gem.

It’s essential to present information in an exciting way, so the audience doesn’t become overwhelmed with a sea of complex information. While there may be a wealth of incredible information about the destination, the overuse of statistics or complicated facts can bore the audience.

Instead, including some of this information in small portions within a story about the place is better for creating memories. It’s also a good idea to explain the unique stories behind photos in more detail to attract the ideal customers. It also gives photographs and destinations depth and life.

Sustainable tourism marketing strategy example: Australian Tourism Data Warehouse

DMOs can use a variety of tools to assist with showcasing the stories of their destination’s distinctiveness and noteworthiness. With destinations having a large variety of attractions and services, there is no better way of doing this than letting tourism communities and businesses tell their own stories.

In Australia, there is a tool called the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW). The ATDW is a platform for user-generated content, which plugs into DMO websites. Local tourism operators use it to create a digital marketing profile.

Illawarra Fly, near Wollongong, Australia, an interactive ecotourism experience that is supported by the ATDW in their marketing campaign for tourism (Photo Credit: Christos Anastasiou).

This profile is then posted on DMO websites across the country, including Tourism Australia and other local or state websites. These profiles allow businesses to highlight their points of difference and what makes them special, curating their own content marketing campaign.

Businesses can prioritize storytelling over more time-consuming marketing and branding tasks, to attract tourists with a captivating and persuasive narrative. It also allows tourism businesses to showcase their accreditations, including their Ecotourism Australia certifications, which display their level of sustainability.

Brand connection from the heart and engagement through emotion.

The key to good storytelling in sustainable destination and tourism marketing is the bond created between the storyteller and the audience through the brand’s story. The deeper the connection, the deeper the desire to travel to the destination. One way to do this is to appeal to the audience’s emotions and generate a desire for visitation. One method is to create a content marketing plan that makes your audience feel happy and unable to ignore.

Destinations can do this effectively through the advertising of local cuisine. Food advertisements in tourism content marketing are powerful and reach many audiences because everyone loves food! Food is also a vehicle for local culture, which too strengthens the connection between the audience and the destination.

There are two main ways to engage an audience: through humor and by discussing the enjoyment of a tourism adventure. Another way is to create empathy and connection with people and communities that would benefit from visiting.

Sustainable tourism marketing strategy example: “Stay close, go further.”

Visit Victoria, the tourism organization of my state in Australia launched a successful tourism campaign called “Stay close, go further.” This campaign effectively utilized emotions and created heartfelt connections with its audience.

This campaign happened after a three-month lockdown in 2020 ended. Victorians were tired of staying home and wanted tourism to resume.

The campaign aimed to encourage people from Victoria to explore regional Victoria. It aimed to support local businesses affected by lockdowns, thus promoting social sustainability.

The Bendigo Tulip festival, an event promoted as part of Visit Victoria’s “stay close, go further” destination. Visit Victoria is the lead of Victoria's Destination Marketing Strategy. — The Bendigo Tulip festival is an event promoted as part of Visit Victoria’s “stay close, go further” destination marketing campaign (Photo Credit: Amelia Gee).

This tourism marketing campaign evoked emotional connection both in generating a desire to travel after an extended period of lockdown, as well as empathy for local businesses that have faced hardship and a desire to help these businesses.

This storytelling campaign was effective as it told the stories of multiple people affected by lockdowns and created a mutually beneficial solution through sustainable tourism. This tourism campaign was very successful and still continues today, promoting local tourism to spread out visitors and lessen environmental effects.

Final Takeaways

In the realm of sustainable tourism marketing, the art of storytelling has become a potent tool for branding strategy and content marketing. Effective tourism marketing transcends mere technical aspects and delves into the craft of storytelling.

Storytelling in sustainable tourism marketing involves creating and maintaining a consistent narrative and brand. Storytelling in sustainable tourism marketing involves creating and maintaining a consistent narrative and brand. This narrative and brand should share knowledge that sparks interest and connection to the destination. It should also celebrate the destination’s uniqueness and build a strong emotional bond with the brand.

Destination marketing case studies from the Blue Mountains and Liberia, and campaigns such as “Stay close, go further” in Victoria, Australia, illustrate the power of storytelling in tourism and strong branding of destinations.

Storytelling is important for successful, sustainable tourism content marketing. It plays a key role in a changing world with climate change, social media, and post-pandemic travel.

Nacula Island in Fiji, a place with a remarkable story that inspires tourism. — Nacula Island, Fiji, a tourism location with remarkable storytelling. (Photo Credit: Christos Anastasiou)

Liked learning about storytelling in sustainable destination and tourism marketing and want to hear more? Take one of our courses to learn more about how to make your destination marketing strategy richer. Visit our Institute for Sustainable Destinations website today.

sustainable and resilient community based tourism in Brazil

Sustaining the Resilience of Community-Based Tourism Initiatives in Brazil

Written by Mavi Wilches on August 25, 2023. Posted in Blog.

A Tale of Resilience and Sustainability: Discover how Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Community-Based Tourism Initiative flourished despite challenges

Community-Based Tourism Initiatives (CBTIs) as Catalysts for Local Development

In response to mass tourism challenges, sustainable tourism emerged, embodying essential pillars of sustainable development. This paradigm shift reinterprets tourism models, emphasizing consciousness, autonomy, and bottom-up strategies while detaching from predatory practices. Community-Based Tourism (CBT) exemplifies sustainable tourism, promoting local development through social justice, resource redistribution, sustainability, and empowerment. CBT initiatives (CBTIs) drive advanced development in impoverished regions with tourism potential to address challenges posed by mass tourism, visionaries conceived sustainable tourism, embodying sustainable development’s pillars.

Rethinking Mass Tourism: The Resilience of Community-Based Tourism Initiatives

The tourism industry holds a significant global economic position, diversifying and actively participating in a growing services economy. It, directly and indirectly, employs a higher share of women and young people. However, the industry’s labor-intensive nature doesn’t always ensure proportional income generation and prosperity for all. “Tourist spending remains in the hands of a few, with high leakages to major corporations in developed countries”. This is worrisome as capital accumulation logic assumes low-complexity job generation ensures lifelong security. Historically, diverse and richly endowed peripheral regions in Latin America, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia have drawn predatory tourism. Meanwhile, the absence or inefficiency of State regulation has regularly contributed to the vicious cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

Criticising Reductionist Mass Tourism: Impact on Local Cultures and Communities

In this regard, the reductionist notions of mass tourism have been particularly reprehended. To appeal to a larger public, this form of tourism caters to the demands and infinite desires of foreign visitors, at whatever cost necessary. Local cultural heritage is ignored, disrespecting it and disrupting social and economic networks. Additionally, catering to foreigners mistreats locals, displacing them and exploiting environments to depletion. As a result, what drives tourism growth is not the development of the region but the privatization of financial gains and socialization of negative externalities.

Redefining Tourism: A Closer Look at Community-Based Tourism Initiatives

What sets this approach apart is its rooted philosophy of plurality. It is applied all throughout the planning and implementation, as well as in the management and monitoring of tourism activities. This is self-evident in:

the different backgrounds of stakeholders, ranging from self-sufficient communities to local governments and NGOs;
its multiplier effect, generating direct and indirect employment opportunities;
the recognition of the local human capital that seeks protagonists and acts proactively in touristic activities;
the appreciation of local culture and way of living, as well as, traditional peoples and their historical heritage; and
the ways of sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.

Their resilience, however, has been widely disputed by researchers in the tourism and development field. According to an analysis carried out by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2006 with 30 different CBTIs in Latin America, eight main deficiencies were identified: (i) dispersed and fragmented supply; (ii) diversification of tourism products is scarce and usually based on natural factors; (iii) professional management is limited due to unfamiliarity with the tourism market; (iv) low product quality; (v) low capacity for negotiation due to limited commercial information and communication mechanisms; (vi) difficulty in promoting CBTs in more dynamic environments; (vii) deficit in infrastructure, sanitation and public services; (viii) marginal or subordinate participation of women in the design and management of initiatives.

In agreement with this analysis, Mielke (2009) focuses on three scopes of deficiencies: (i) market access; (ii) internal governance; and (iii) the management of strategic partnerships. As such, addressing the resilience of CBTIs is the stepping-stone to a successful local development strategy. These qualitative assessments hold high relevance in the post-pandemic scenario. They identify the elements and mechanisms enabling tourism initiatives to survive months without revenue or government or NGO support.

Why are Community-Based Tourism Initiatives on the rise in Brazil?

Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Path: From Cultural Heritage to Thriving CBTI

In that regard, the tourism experiences of the traditional peoples of Quilombo Ivaporunduva have shown exemplary results by moving beyond idealism and legitimately underpinning the integration of conservation goals into development. Much like other quilombos throughout the country, this community was founded in colonial times to provide refuge to fugitive slaves. These spaces have since then been protected by guarantees and public policies to pay homage to the racial struggle and protect national identity.

The story behind Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s CBTI

community-based tourism initiative — A house surrounded by trees in Caeté-Açu, PA, Brazil (Photo credit: Ramon Rocha)

Quilombo Ivaporunduva, located in São Paulo, Brazil, houses around 80 families and is esteemed as one of the region’s oldest Remnant Quilombola Community (CRQ). Its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage gained international recognition in 1999 when designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. They formed an association in 1994, gaining legal representation and recognition, and after a 22-year struggle, secured their entitlement in 2010. Their efforts led to recognition by the Land Institute Foundation in 1997, becoming the first CRQ in São Paulo to achieve legal security by INCRA. The community leader on the frontline of this battle was Ditão, who continued serving the community.

Quilombo Ivaporunduva: A Hub of Sustainable Development

Throughout the 1990s, the Association welcomed new prospects of income generation to complement the revenue derived from small-scale sustainable farming, which still is their main economic activity. Around the same time, tourism interest was beginning to pick up in the region. This was noticed by the municipal government who suggested CRQs adopt CBT strategies. Accepting this proposition took some convincing within Quilombo Ivaporunduva, since most locals had never heard about it and had apprehensions about its impacts. As a result, a round of debates was organized to discuss the positive and negative impacts of operating ecotourism and ethno-tourism. Eventually, most were convinced by its potential to contribute to the advancement of conscious citizens, conservationism, and cross-cultural appreciation.

The Association’s Leadership and Organizational Structure: Embracing CBT Strategies and Shaping a Vision

The Association holds authority for discussions and planning. Annually, the community shapes action plans and projects. Monthly meetings track progress and issues. A six-member board implements decisions. It’s elected every two years based on contributions and an audit committee, as stated in their Statute. That includes the relatively low share of income that is withheld by an obligation to maintain the Association.

After all accepted CBT, the Association initiated workshops on tourism concepts, demand mapping, and CRQ values. They used thematic guidelines to define their CBTI’s vision and mission, including aspects like Art, Customs, Nature, and more. After gradually becoming familiar with the idea, they began putting in more collective effort and raising funds for it to thrive. That is when the community decided to build an inn for tourists outside the residential area. The construction took place between 2001 and 2002 with resources from the state government and supervision by ITESP. Furnishing it took another three years with the help of the Secretary of Promotion of Policies for Racial Equality, linked to the Federal Government, and funds from Petrobras.

Building an Inn and Diversifying Initiatives

The Association achieved another milestone by categorizing its main initiatives into tourism, handicrafts, and organic production. They employ locals and families in rotational roles, including gastronomy, maintenance, administrative positions, and the families selling organic bananas. Marketed and delivered by the Association, cash crops like organic bananas took off when they became officially certified by the Associação de Certificação Instituto Biodinâmico. Part of their production is collected by the Quilombola Farmers’ Cooperative of Vale do Ribeira (Cooperquivale), who sell it along with the production of 17 other quilombos. Another part of the production is sold through the National School Feeding Program to cities in the state of São Paulo.

Capacity and Diversity of Visitors

Upon request, it is possible to participate in their harvests, which engage the entire community, followed by feasts and dancing. Besides these rituals, the Association has arranged a tourism package characterized by variety: (i) lectures on the history of the quilombo and current challenges related to sustainability, conservation, dam constructions and local development; (ii) workshops on fishing, handicrafts, medicinal plants, subsistence agriculture, banana crops, gold mining and local gastronomy; (iii) storytelling and village immersion; and (iv) visit Church Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos. Additional attractions explore surrounding areas like the Caverna do Diabo, Mirante do Governador, Cachoeira do Araçá, Trilha Vale das Ostras and Cachoeira Queda do Meu Deus. The CBTI experience includes becoming acquainted with the local cuisine through a varied menu. Throughout the tour, visitors are requested to respect local privacy.

Two coordinators in charge of the tourism agenda take care of the online bookings; negotiations with tourism agencies; management of the tourism package; hiring and training of local tour guides; elaboration of budgets; purchases for the inn; hiring of support staff and collecting tourism revenue. The price of the stay is defined by the accounting team, and they consider the prices of services and inflation rates. Around 70 people are directly employed to manage and administer the CBTI, not to mention the families contributing to artisanal and agricultural products and other hospitality services.

Achieving Stability and Prioritizing Infrastructure

Given this infrastructure, Quilombo Ivaporunduva has the capacity to receive up to 130 tourists per day and 60 people to stay overnight in the inn. With the help of tourism agencies like Araribá, they have received tourists from all ages, foreigners, schools, and professionals from academia.

These legal and economic milestones towards the maturation of their CBTI granted greater stability that allowed the community to focus on other pressing matters. In acknowledgment of their rights, better facilities in infrastructure and public services became a top priority to protect their subsistence in the territory. Compensation was sought for the construction of a bridge in 2010, which enabled much-needed access to schools and health centers, not to mention an increased production flow and the influx of tourists.

The Pillars of Resilience: How Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s CBTI Thrived

Over the past two decades, at least six neighboring quilombos attempted ecotourism and ethno-tourism through CBT. However, only Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s initiative displayed resilience. They possessed predisposed advantages in geographic location, ecosystems, an established foundation from informal institutions and social organization, political networking inclination, and focused inclusive and strategic visioning. Unlike other Brazilian CBTIs, Quilombo Ivaporunduva embraced comprehensive participation pre-tourism, fostering a symbiotic relationship. Their tourism operation channeled pre-existing strengths productively, aiming to mature by adopting new technologies, constructing robust infrastructure and public services, sourcing multiple finances, ensuring educational opportunities, and deploying versatile attractions. Engaging hospitality demanded an open posture, especially from local guides, convincing them of their role in citizen development, environmental conservation, and cross-cultural appreciation. This transition reflects cultural dynamism stages spurred by the urgency to diversify income sources.

Navigating the Pandemic: Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Response to Crisis

During the pandemic peak, stringent restrictions impacted core and ancillary economic activities due to mandatory self-quarantine measures. The Cooperquivale partnership halted, leading to surplus production. Face-to-face class interruptions canceled 38 tons of vegetable deliveries. A swift emergency plan established a food distribution network to address this, connecting sponsors and hunger relief campaigns with CRQ food donations. Partners procured food from the cooperative and distributed it in baskets, achieving a triple purpose: sustaining field production, securing CRQ income, and ensuring food security for vulnerable urban populations. Quilombo Ivaporunduva contributed 254 tons of food (from May 2020 to October 2021) to over 31,000 individuals in various quilombos, rural, and urban communities. This initiative persisted until January 2022.

Unveiling the Secrets of Success: Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s Takeaways for Thriving CBTIs

As such, with the maturation of other CBTIs in mind, Quilombo Ivaporunduva’s experience provides some rich reflections and takeaways: (i) branching out to appeal to a wider public; (ii) the differential attraction that forges an authentic experience to secure a competitive advantage over conventional tourism products; and (iii) the importance of governmental assistance in creating incentives for visitation and structural investments.

The Role of Destination Management Organizations in CBTIs

role of destination management organisations in sustaining the resilience of community based tourism — A photo of a trail in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh, where Solimar is establishing a DMO. (Photo credit: Rasima Sabzalieva )

Empowering the Future: How Destination Management Organizations Support CBTIs

Reliance on these opportune determinants alone doesn’t ensure resilience. Enhancements are necessary in dimensions like digital adaptability, predicting increased rural technological infrastructure demand. Long-standing concerns about local development center around information and communication technology needs. The pace of technological transition in rural economies lags behind urban settings, necessitating smart city investment and complex policies. Insufficient facilities in infrastructure, public services, and civil services challenge CRQs. Improved living standards leading to returns suggest that emigration is restricted by fundamental factors rather than voluntary choices. Facility scarcity hampers resilience, hindering responsiveness and community empowerment. Concerns arise about a state draft law recognizing and regulating CBTIs, lacking incentives to bolster resilience. It grants unilateral authority to the State and Municipal Secretary of Tourism for monitoring and data collection without anticipating participative committees or councils linking local needs to private sectors, governmental agencies, and different levels of government’s political will and power.

On a further note, it sustains the gap between stakeholders in the public and private sectors and from civil society and the communities to focus efforts, generate some level of agreement on development objectives, and deliver cooperative mobilization. In fact, other dimensions could benefit from a more effective and efficient public sector involvement – as noted by the absence of the local government and Secretary of Tourism of São Paulo in strategic visioning processes. To understand these shortcomings more deeply, one would need to conduct a personnel analysis of the Secretary of Tourism of São Paulo. This trend is evident in the State’s lack of proactive measures to provide dedicated funds for CBTIs and ongoing educational opportunities, including training for tour guides and hospitality workshops.

Destination Management Organizations’ Strategies for CBTIs

On that note, considering how Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) play an essential role in managing tourism at the local level to attract tourists and support businesses within its boundaries, these are the ways new opportunities could be created:

Conduct Market Research
Branding campaigns related to ecotourism, agro-tourism, and cultural tourism;
High-quality product development for schools and social movements;
Maximizing and pooling financial resources from both public and private sources;
Marketing through targeted campaigns;
Partnerships on issues related to sustainability to achieve common goals;
Addressing barriers that prevent neighboring CBTIs from maturating;
Effective communication with stakeholders;
Supporting efforts to update the regional Tourism Master Plans (PDT);
Promote cultural appreciation and transparent synergies.

It is important to highlight that DMOs can be part of a government entity, a stand-alone organization, or a combination of a chamber of commerce and a tourism bureau. Businesses can invest in DMOs to pool resources by making voluntary marketing contributions that bank advertising. In essence, it leverages its money with the organization and the community to promote the destination. In parallel, ratifying tourism marketing authorities (TMAs) from government-level authorization allows DMOs not to be at the whim of the government since tourism budgets may have to compete with other priorities.

Empowering DMO Development: Insights from Solimar International

Jennifer Wesselhoff, the President and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, strongly advocates for creating these key players in the DMO Development Program provided by the Institute for Sustainable Destinations. With over 20 years of industry experience, she has observed how it shifted the power dynamics between tourism businesses and the city to align their interests. This facilitated an easy decision to increase taxation on the tourism industry, establishing a higher percentage of “bed taxes” in the United States. This move led to increased municipal funds, benefiting both locals and tourists. However, it’s important to note that focusing on higher tourist spending instead of numbers could potentially exclude budget-conscious travelers. Adapting insights from DMO experiences in the US and other Solimar projects to Brazil’s market could usher in a transformative era for CBTIs.

Interested in how we can help you with Destination Management Organizations? Contact us to learn more.

Pink cadillac car with tourists drives past colonial homes in Old Havana

Role of Tourism Consultants: Secret to Destination Success

Written by Shannon McCarthy on August 3, 2023. Posted in Tourism Development Consulting, Uncategorized.

The Secret Behind Thriving Travel Destinations

At the heart of every successful tourist destination, the essential role of tourism consultants operates like a well-kept secret. Their work is multifaceted and dynamic, shifting from one project to the next, each day offering a unique set of challenges. However, the proficiency they bring to international development, tourism, and marketing industries is irrefutable. As they utilize their broad knowledge and expertise, these tourism consultants carve a path toward prosperity for their clients, showcasing the undeniable importance of their role in shaping and promoting sustainable travel destinations.

A picturesque landscape of the Namib Desert. — Photo by Arne Smith on Unsplash

Picture this:

You are scrolling through social media and stumble upon a sponsored advertisement. It features a travel blogger playfully navigating through the vibrant, bustling streets of Istanbul or on an uplifting journey in a hot air balloon, ascending above the vast expanse of Namibia’s ancient sand dunes. Soon, you see signs of these leading destinations wherever you look. Your best friend’s parents just returned from their two-week trip to said country, or Netflix uploaded new content that contains historical, cultural, and travel insights into the up-and-coming tourist destination.

Curiosity motivates you to research the travel destination where you discover unique accommodations, adventurous tours with local guides, and local restaurants which serve authentic, mouthwatering cuisine. All of a sudden, you find yourself at the airport convenience store stocking up on snacks and magazines before hustling towards the gate to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You may wonder how you and millions of other tourists became inspired to visit the same tourist destination. Why did this happen? Who made this happen?

The secret behind successful travel destinations is complex and cannot be attributed to one aspect. Leading destinations require months of research, strategic marketing, leadership collaboration, and community involvement. Large marketing budgets certainly play a role into their visibility, but in order to efficiently organize complex aspects of development and marketing tailored to the current situation of a destination, travel destinations may require the expert knowledge of sustainable tourism consultants who advise their clients on how to set themselves up for long-term success and sustainability.

What is the Role of Tourism Consultants?

Sustainable tourism consultants are creative professionals with expert knowledge in the tourism industry and destination management. Their clients include destination management organizations (DMOs), airline and hospitality entities, local and national governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), stakeholders, and tourism boards and businesses. By leveraging their expertise, consultants set the long-term vision and assist clients every step of the way. Ultimately, sustainable tourism consultants act as catalysts for growth, assisting in the development and implementation of effective tourism strategies.

1. How to Research and Assess a Tourist Destination

The crucial first step tourism consulting firms will take is conducting thorough destination market research. This includes gathering information from local stakeholders to understand the client’s assets, growth opportunities, key demographics, and how the client can extend beyond their vision. At Solimar, our consultants present clients with a summary of our findings and insightful recommendations for further expansion based on our data-driven market research.

For example, sustainable tourism consultants play a crucial role in destination assessments to understand what inspires tourists from different demographics. By delving into a destination’s historical, cultural, and geographical stories, these experts can identify activities and experiences that appeal to a diverse range of travelers. By promoting sustainable practices, these destination assessments contribute to the preservation of a tourist destination’s unique charm and ensure that tourism benefits everyone involved.

A scuba diver explores ocean ecosystems off the coast of Saudi Arabia — *Photo by NEOM on Unsplash*

2. How to Brand a Tourist Destination

Within the tourism industry, all leading destinations have a captivating narrative that appeals to a variety of tourist demographics. It is the sustainable tourism consultant’s role to effectively share the destination’s story across multiple marketing platforms.

Destination marketing, or destination branding, is an essential ingredient in a travel destination’s success because it creates destination awareness, illuminates the destination’s attractive qualities, and utilizes market segmentation methods that tailor the branding approach to the tourist demographics, which will yield the best results.

Consider a destination that seeks to brand a specific stretch of its coastline as the ultimate hub for adventure watersports. To achieve this, the destination will emphasize and promote local businesses offering scuba diving and deep-sea fishing experiences, enticing thrill-seeking travelers in search of adrenaline-inducing activities.

The process of branding tourism destinations entails gathering essential details from these local businesses. Sustainable tourism consultants delve into their origin stories, unique selling points, and desired promotional approaches. Next, the consultants will design and implement branding essentials, such as captivating logos, memorable slogans, and a compelling online presence. Through a consistent brand story displayed across various platforms, they effectively communicate the area’s allure for adventure watersports, drawing in an audience of adventure enthusiasts eager to explore the exhilarating opportunities available.

3. How to Create Memorable Experiences for Tourists

All premier tourist destinations curate a variety of experiences. For instance, Mexico is the 7th most popular tourist destination globally. For international travelers planning on visiting the Yucatan Peninsula, they may begin researching the destination months prior. Let’s say the tourist is a history buff; they can easily look into local guides who offer expertly designed trips to archeological sites such as Chichén Itzá.

A local tour guide takes a group of travelers through Chichen Itza — *Photo by Kentaro Toma on Unsplash*

So, how do tourist destinations decide which products and experiences they will offer potential travelers? With the guidance of sustainable tourism consultants, top tourist destinations will partner with local businesses to identify and market experiences that appeal to a variety of tourist demographics. This entails working one-on-one with tourism businesses to design unique offerings, decide prices for their products and experiences, and forecast potential profit margins.

For sustainable travel consultants, every detail is significant. At Solimar, clients can anticipate a comprehensive business and product development plan encompassing evaluations of supply and demand, a sustainable business strategy to ensure recurring revenue, and a thorough training program for business owners, managers, and employees. Moreover, collaborative marketing strategies are expertly crafted to empower local tourism businesses to surpass their goals.

A group of indigenous women from the Kavango region perform traditional styled dance — *Photo by Datingscout on Unsplash*

4. How to Understand the Benefits of Sustainable Tourism

A recent study conducted by Expedia Group Media Solutions revealed a growing inclination among international travelers to pursue eco-friendly and sustainable travel experiences. With the increasing detriments caused by climate change and over-tourism, sustainable tourism consultants aim to inform destinations of how they can reduce the negative impact of tourism while increasing its benefits.

Promotes environmental conservation: Responsible tourism methods promote the preservation and protection of natural resources and biodiversity. For example, eco-friendly accommodations will commit to sustainable operations such as using renewable energy sources, reducing water consumption, and implementing recycling and waste management systems.
Empowers the community: Sustainable tourism practices benefit the local community by creating employment opportunities, funding education systems and infrastructure initiatives, and increasing the understanding of cultural diversity and equity. Additionally, it empowers the local community by encouraging the involvement of the residents in decision-making processes and community-based tourism enterprises.
Preserves cultural heritage: Sustainability is about celebrating the cultural backgrounds of the local people and maintaining their authenticity. For instance, a sustainable tourist destination will promote authentic cultural experiences such as homestay accommodations, traditional craft demonstrations, and traditional performances which benefit those of that heritage.

If you’re wondering how to be a responsible tourist who supports sustainable tourism practices, you can opt for environmentally friendly transportation options, support the community by buying local products and tour experiences, book green and locally owned accommodations, and travel to lesser-known destinations.

A women is bent down in a crop field participating in agritourism. — *Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash*

Final Thoughts: The Role of Sustainable Tourism Consultants

Next time you come across a travel blogger’s captivating TikTok content featuring pristine beaches, picturesque villages, or impressive historical architecture, remember that a team of sustainable tourism consultants worked diligently with these destinations for months, if not years, prior to making it all possible. Creating a thriving tourist destination requires attention to every detail. Tourism consultants play a crucial role in identifying the client’s unique voice and offerings that distinguish them from competitors. They establish a consistent media presence, instill successful business operations, and emphasize the significance of sustainable travel practices throughout the journey.

A wooden sign in the shape of a foot sits on the beach and represents the role of tourism consultants by stating, "only leave your footprints." — *Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash*

At Solimar International, sustainability is at the core of our approach. We firmly believe that successful tourist destinations are built upon a foundation of environmental and cultural preservation. In a world where travel has become increasingly accessible and impactful, our team of tourism experts provides invaluable expertise and guidance to help our clients thrive. To learn more about our tourism consulting services, visit website!

Ecotourism in the Sundarbans and Local Food Security: Data Overview from Bangladesh Dissertation Research

Written by Cat Padgett on July 19, 2023. Posted in Blog, Uncategorized.

FINDING SOLIMAR

Throughout my time studying food security at the University of Edinburgh, I was vaguely aware of the advantages of sustainable tourism development projects in vulnerable areas of the world, but I wasn’t clear about how these efforts can actualize environmental and social improvements in practice. A friend of mine working in ecotourism then introduced me to Solimar, and I was energized by their results and success. Solimar connects people with economic opportunities and promotes environmental initiatives through sustainable tourism development.

I learned that Solimar was doing work in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, and I became hooked on the idea of getting involved in their project. Throughout my course in food security, I developed a fascination with mangroves and how they can support food security in the world’s vulnerable coastal areas. I then got connected with one of Solimar’s project partners, the Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS). BEDS is a Bangladeshi NGO pursuing cooperative solutions to the country’s deteriorating mangrove habitat, coastal instability, and livelihood vulnerabilities among Bonojibi people (forest dwellers) who live in and around the Sundarbans. I was able to piggyback my research onto an existing project in the area – USAID contracts Solimar to develop the Bangladesh Ecotourism and Conservation Alliance (BECA) in collaboration with BEDS.

Getting connected with the larger Solimar, BEDS, and BECA networks granted me access to a world of sustainable development I thought I could only encounter much later in my career. These connections helped me better understand some of the vast economic and environmental results Solimar and BEDS have achieved with their program interventions.

Existing research in Bangladeshi mangrove preservation has focused on the ecological stability of the region. Working within existing frameworks, I proposed to contribute a food security angle to the existing data with my dissertation research, studying the effects of participation in mangrove conservation efforts on the four food security pillars in local households.

The Four Pillars of Food Security, as defined by The Committee on World Food Security

Thus, my research project was born:

Can Mangrove Conservation Interventions Increase Short-Term Food Security for Banojibi villages, while working towards Long-Term Ecological Stability, in The Sundarban Forest of Bangladesh?

A Case Study Evaluation of Local Perspectives on Bangladesh Environment and Development Society Mangrove Conservation Initiatives

The experience blew me away; I was able to travel to Bangladesh and interview stakeholders in and around the Sundarbans. I spoke with mangrove conservation project managers, forest rangers, farmers, ecotour guides, students and professors at Khulna university, and other interested parties to better understand the influence of mangrove conservation efforts on local livelihoods. The data collected from my study has since helped to inform food system lens for BECA project interventions in the Sundarban Reserve Forest, including the monitoring, evaluation, and learning of implemented project activities, specifically related to food security outcomes.

KEY FINDINGS OF ECOTOURISM IN THE SUNDARBANS ON LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION

The culmination of my field research in the Sundarbans revealed some compelling themes linking ecotourism development to the improvement of livelihoods, including economic opportunities and food security outcomes for local people. BEDS’ ecotourism sector is one of five sectors (including agriculture, aquaculture, non-forest timber products, and mangrove reforestation) that is supporting regional environmental security in the Sundarbans. In addition to promoting mangrove health and coastal stability, BEDS’ ecotourism sector also facilitates cultural exchange between local people and tourists, and increased awareness of the vulnerable Sundarbans habitat. It also supports mangrove conservation in its emphasis on sustainable development, prioritizing local, small-scale, and sustainable materials for infrastructure, environmental education, and cultural exchange among local people and tourists. These actions increase awareness of the Sundarbans’ value and reduce resource pressures on mangrove habitat, in lieu of large-scale development of tourist facilities, and associated environmental degradation. The following statistics from my research showcase the results of ecotourism opportunities in the study area:

Nypa Palm and Bamboo Eco-Cottage Under Construction in Banishanta Union

A large majority (87.5%) of interviewees in the sector agreed that mangrove conservation initiatives have increased their access to professional opportunities.
Before the BEDS intervention, 50% of interview participants reported working as domestic and day laborers. All of those (37.5%) who reported working as domestic laborers were women. After getting involved in BEDS programming, however, 100% of people reported that their primary income came from ecotourism opportunities.
Over 71% of interview participants noted that increased opportunities for extended community partnerships between sectors could add value to ecotourism in the area. Specifically, 50% noted that opportunities to experience village lifestyle and culture would increase the value of ecotourism activities. Another 50% also mentioned healthier mangroves and Sundarban biodiversity as a driver of ecotourism value.
Ecotourism in the study area contributed to increased income and economic opportunities for women (affecting access to food), increased access to drinking water (affecting the utilization of food), increased ecological stability, improved land use practices, and cooperative partnerships (affecting the stability of local food systems).

Data from the ecotourism sector presented compelling opportunities for commercial cooperation and cultural-exchange between BEDS’ five sectors. For instance, BEDS’ ecotourism adds value to its local communities by developing increased employment opportunities and increasing regional awareness of the state of the Sundarbans. For instance, shrimp yields are highest from September to October in the study area. This is also the most popular tourist season, as it is the dry season in Bangladesh. This overlap could provide a valuable opportunity for pop-up retail markets in the aquaculture sector, and the diversification of market opportunities for farmers. This program also is one of the limited professional avenues for local people,especially women. This is a valuable avenue into the professional workforce for people in the study area, and a compelling avenue for reducing regional gender inequities.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE?

The ecotourism sector in Bangladesh is facing an interesting opportunity. The introduction of a 6 km bridge across the padma river on June 25, 2022, which will streamline transportation between Bangladesh’s metropolitan hubs, including Dhaka and Khulna, and the co

astal part of the country, is certain to increase regional tourist traffic. Unrestricted tourism could be disastrous for the area. However, increasing measured and intentional opportunities for sustainable ecotourism development could present an opportunity for increased awareness of the SRF, and an influx in economic opportunities in depressed local markets. The influx in capital, as a result of ecotourism, can change the micro and macroeconomic landscape of local communities in the world’s mangrove supporting regions. These benefits are critical to regional food security; economic opportunities like this are positively correlated with increased access to food, a diversified diet, and increased stability of local food systems.

HOW CAN DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM IN THE SUNDARBANS SCALE THESE RESULTS?

These results reveal several compelling themes that highlight the intersections of mangrove conservation efforts in the SIZ, and regional food security:

Multi-stakeholder initiatives can address opportune connections between local markets and ecosystems, helping to support local mangrove conservation and food availability and access
Increasing opportunities for ecotourism will increase opportunities for the retail sale of premium mangrove-friendly products in food producing sectors
Increasing opportunities for young people to be involved in ecotourism will improve environmental education and gender equity
Opportunities for visitor engagement in forest regeneration in the study area will increase opportunities for improving coastal stability and habitat production for the ecotourism sector, and food-production habitats for food producing sectors

Much of what was revealed in this research is already documented in current literature: mature mangrove forests can support food security, and mangrove conservation efforts can support livelihoods. This work adds an additional, targeted food security angle to the field, and contributes to the emerging research about how conservation interventions can also support food security in the short-term, as reforested and protected mangroves grow from saplings to resource-giving trees. Not only can cooperative mangrove conservation interventions, like ecotourism development, endow Bangladeshi communities with food security-supporting services, but these efforts can also stimulate education, a fair distribution of incomes, gender equality, cultural celebration, access to land and ownership, regional climate resilience, and other socio-ecological and economic assets.

WORKING WITH LOCAL PEOPLE

A pillar of Solimar and BEDS’ work in the Sundarbans is to ensure that the perspectives and priorities of local people are centered in every initiative taken on the behalf of the forest that they steward. Results from my limited work in the study area contribute to existing research indicating that conservation interventions are most successful when local communities are involved. Formal interviews and casual conversations with locals revealed to me that there is a robust momentum for mangrove conservation in the region I visited. Community-based mangrove forest management in the Sundarbans, including the development of the ecotourism sector, appeared to be a successful avenue to conservation, based on the results of my research and the perspectives of local people. This avenue for conservation initiatives redistributes the agency of forest conservation from powerful stakeholders to local people who rely on the forests’ resources for their livelihoods. These are the people targeted in Solimar’s work in Sundarbans ecotourism, and these are the people who will most directly influence policy and conservation.

What is a Destination Development Plan and why is it needed?

Written by Anaïs Prado Cornaro on December 1, 2022. Posted in Blog, Uncategorized.

Tourism is truly a booming industry and affects many people around the world. Some destinations have flourished, but many have had to endure the negative aspects of tourism. Taking into account all of the global issues we face nowadays, such as climate change and pandemics, it is now more crucial than ever to assure a destination is thoroughly planned and effectively managed. In this blog we cover the question of what a destination development plan is, what process it undergoes and why every destination needs one.

What is Destination Development?

The development of a destination is the process of evolving the location’s supply side of tourism in order to meet the area’s tourism demands. This can be achieved by adding supporting infrastructure, including accommodations, transport, technological advancements, but also intangible aspects like workforce development. Destination development will automatically occur when the demand for a destination increases; so it is vital to ensure it is a strategically executed process.

Why is it important to plan a destination’s development?

Planning a destination’s development is a crucial process, which provides tourism organizations with the needed tools to achieve a common goal. In any destination the necessary steps must be taken early on in the process to prevent unhealthy growth.

How do destinations change over time?

Destinations can evolve quite drastically over time, especially emerging destinations. Emerging destinations typically have more local participation. As they become more developed, they get an influx of foreign investors and business owners who can change the feel of a destination.

What are the social impacts of tourism?

It is more or less inevitable for a destination with an attractive tourist offer to become popular. Take for example an emerging destination. With an increase in visitors, more and more outside business interests will see it as an opportunity. Once international interest for the area starts to increase, new challenges and barriers emerge for service providers as they don’t have the training and knowledge to capture markets coming from outside the country.

Without a destination development plan that considers growth, as well as the needs of tourists and service providers, destinations are going to miss that market entirely. This can lead to another investor from the outside with the necessary expertise taking advantage of the growing market.

This in return will entirely change the visitor experience. The destination will lose its authenticity: its uniqueness and with that its ability to compete and differentiate itself from other destinations.

How can tourism planning help the environment and its protection?

Generally global tourism isn’t known for being environmentally friendly. Increased demand leads to an increase in travel, as well as the destruction of nature to acquire greater space and resources. Even further, this is all done for the few “good” months of the year, in which tourism is optimal.

However, by introducing a tourism strategy, it is then possible to minimize these effects and maximize the environment’s protection.

By including a careful assessment of the region’s environmental problems as well as possible threats it could face with an increase in tourism into the destination analysis, one can set a clear goal. One can include these critical environmental aspects into the objectives and incentivize the creation of policies that can protect the destination’s environment.

In addition, tourism generates two key resources that can be harnessed to protect the environment.

Increased financial income: Earmark a portion of the profits and direct them towards local environmental conservation activities.
People’s engagement: Reach agreements with local beneficiaries to make an individual commitment to support the project outcome.

Set the roots for sustainable destination development — Set the roots and groundwork for sustainable and maintainable growth early on.

What is a Destination Development Plan?

Destination Development Plans (DDPs), also known as Destination Development Strategies or Destination Management Plans, are all closely related tourism plans.

Tourism plans are holistic strategies, dedicated to a defined tourist area, which based upon intricate destination research and a market analysis, form destination specific objectives and correlating approaches. The strategy is designed to create a guiding plan to develop and manage a destination to its specific needs and reach a common goal.

The strategy should always have an outcome in mind to maximize local economic profit and set the groundwork for sustainable and maintainable growth.

Solimar International refers to the term Destination Development Plan, as for most of their sites, development is a major part of the objective.

What does a Destination Development Plan generally include?

Destination Development Plans can generally be split into two halves.

Situation Analysis: A detailed evaluation of the destination’s current state. This would include information on existing tourism assets, available tourism services, the industry’s performance and its competitors, as well as involved parties for tourism policy, management, marketing and investment.
Future Goal: Concluded from the analysis, the future goal is both the desired outcome for the development of the destination as well as the means to get there. It is vital to agree upon a shared vision and form several strategic objectives to focus on.

Chasing a shared destination vision — Make sure you chase a shared and reasonable goal.

How do you make a plan for a Tourism Destination?

The process of making a plan for a tourism destination can differ. This is greatly affected by the type of stakeholders that are involved and especially whether the destination already has a Destination Management Organisation. However they usually all follow similar steps of action.

In the Visit Tunisia Project, where Solimar was contracted to develop a National Tourism Strategy and six regional destination development plans aligning with the national strategy, the process underwent the following steps.

Developing a destination should go step by step — Destination development planning should be a step by step process.

Understand the place and all of its attractions.

This is especially important for consulting companies like Solimar. Foreign entities cannot just come in and create a plan for a destination; in order to gather on-site knowledge and incorporate different local perspectives in the plan, it is imperative to involve local stakeholders in the process.
Understand the visitor.

This step will directly influence the path a destination will take. It is important to figure out what kinds of people visit the destination, for how long and when. Once this is understood, it will provide vital information on visitors’ behavior and how to better attract your target audience. This will shape the future of a destination.
Inventory what services are available.

It is crucial to understand the destination’s existing human capital, as well as infrastructure (including accommodations, tourist facilities, transportation, signage, retail, hospital facilities, payment options etc.)
Bring it all together with the SWOT Analysis.

The SWOT Analysis is a final conclusion, drawn from the situation analysis, which displays all of the internal, as well as external positives and negatives to a destination: the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Develop the future vision and its major objectives.

With the accumulated in-depth knowledge from the situation analysis, you have the groundwork for what the obtainable future vision will be. The main goal will then be divided into several clear objectives and the needed approaches. Here the destination asks itself, in what direction should this development go?
Set the plan up for success by ending with an Action Matrix.

The process of making a DDP already brings its own benefits, however it can easily be abandoned once development begins. Therefore it is indispensable to create a plan of action to accomplish the objectives aimed for. Each strategic initiative should have several actions dedicated to it. For each action it is important to identify the partners responsible for its implementation and create a timeline (near-, mid-, and long-term).

What entities are involved in the process of making a Destination Development Plan?

The question of who is in charge of making a destination development plan, as well as what kinds of entities get involved, mainly comes down to whether the destination already has a DMO which in addition needs sufficient resources and knowledge to complete such a process. In the case where there is not a DMO or they don’t have enough of an experienced workforce, they hire a consultant such as Solimar.

Apart from the DMO or consulting company, there are three separate levels of partners involved in the process of making a destination’s strategy.

Donor: With emerging destinations especially, donors make up the first layer. For example, in the case of the “Visit Tunisia Project,” the donor is USAID.
National level partners: Government institutions or independent organizations given the power by the government to manage the tourism sector or other intersecting sectors. Examples of these include the Ministry of Tourism in Namibia, the Forest Department of Liberia or the Ministry of Environment in Uganda.
Local industry associations, such as tour guide associations, hotel owner associations or artisanal associations. This third level, especially for emerging destinations without an established tourism organization, creates a deep connection with local stakeholders and lets the local community be represented.

What is the purpose of a Destination Development Plan?

The general purpose of a destination development plan is to guarantee a long-term positive outcome for a destination. It takes into account a destination’s assets as well as opportunities that it’s missing out on. Among the goals of the destination development plan, one is to ensure the destination is competitive and delivers a strong product to satisfy visitors. However more importantly, it creates the framework and guidelines for sustainable development of the destination.

What are the main objectives of tourism planning in a Destination?

The main objectives for any tourism plan are to:

Increase visitor satisfaction
Assure a destination’s competitiveness (and foster its uniqueness)
Maintain participation and integration of local communities
Use of resources and the environment in a sustainable manner
Protect cultural heritage
Stimulate Economic growth

In order to achieve these goals, destinations will set up several objectives tailored to its specific needs.

What are the benefits of destination planning?

In addition to making a destination competitive, proper tourism planning will provide perspectives for local communities, ensure the protection of environmental and cultural resources and protect the destination from being overwhelmed by the industry.

So by taking a destination’s assets into account these strategies serve as a guidance tool to tourism organizations. If executed correctly, this creates benefits for more than just economic growth. Planned destinations can:

Involve the local community and provide income
Minimize environmental impact and drive some of the profits towards its protection
Support a destination to stay true to its traditions and uphold its culture
Improve understanding of different cultures and relations between guests and hosts
Prevent over-tourism
Make it more than just another “beach experience”

Destination Development Plans guide the process for the desired direction — Destination development plans help define the desired direction and reach the goal.

What makes Solimar International’s help effective?

Although each destination is different, the process of making a destination development plan doesn’t change significantly. Not only is the knowledge needed regarding how such plans are structured, but experience and knowledge of the tourism industry is also necessary.

Through Solimar’s vast experience, gained from 200 projects and over 500 destinations, the organization boasts the complete suite of tools needed to help destination’s reach a sustainable goal. This knowledge includes:

Developing a well-defined and well-successful formula for such plans
Incentivizing the participation of various stakeholders and create a space for collaboration
Having the understanding of the most effective marketing tools that exist
Being well-networked within the private sector of the tourism industry and being well versed in investment promotion
Having repeated experience with the later implementation of such plans

If you want to learn more about how tourism can help destination’s develop in the right way, and how our work makes a difference, check out our Virtual Internship Program!

WE DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND MARKET SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATIONS

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