Think Like A Visitor

For years, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) were mainly evaluated based on one key question: “How many visitors did you bring here?” This focus made sense back when many communities were all about growing. More visitors meant more hotel stays, more restaurant visits, more shopping, and ultimately more tax money for local services and a better quality of life. Marketing was the driving force. Advertising, branding, visitor guides, public relations, and trade shows were the tools they used. But tourism has changed, and so have the expectations that communities have for the organizations that represent them. Today, many DMOs are transforming into Destination Management Organizations, a small change in wording that really shows a big shift in what they’re responsible for. The modern visitor economy isn’t just about how many people are coming. More and more, destinations are asking important questions: Are visitors making life better for the people who live there? Is tourism a sus...