What do you need to do for your travel agency to regain travelers’ trust? Check out the travel marketing trends for travel agencies in 2021
After many losses and uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism agencies are trying to get back into business. But this will not be an easy path.
It is necessary to regain the trust of travelers, who are more cautious about health and safety issues. At the same time, it is necessary to adapt to meet the new tourist profile.
And how to do this? It is important to be aware of tourism marketing strategies for your travel agency to reach the potential customer. More than that, it is necessary to communicate in the right way to win them over.
In this sense, knowing the main travel marketing trends for travel agencies in 2021 is fundamental.
Top travel marketing trends for 2021
As we have already mentioned, the recovery of travel agencies depends on assertive actions to regain the trust of post-Covid travelers.
To help you map out the best strategies, we have listed below the 5 travel marketing trends for travel agencies in 2021.
Learn how to adapt to the new tourist profile and what to do for your travel agency this year
Travel marketing should focus on humanized experience
The big trend in travel marketing for 2021 is to focus on the humanized experience. But what does this mean?
The traveler must be at the center of all actions. It is necessary to understand them in order to offer the best service. After a period of isolation and uncertainty, the tourist will give priority to living experiences, and not just going on a trip.
Therefore, your travel agency must convince them that it is the best option. Show that you understand their insecurity, try to understand their wishes, and offer personalized service.
According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and consultancy Oliver Wyman, “the travel and tourism industry has a unique opportunity to rethink and update current business models, in partnership with local communities and taking into account our most valuable asset: people.
The travel agency that knows how to direct its actions, including marketing, in this direction will certainly win over more travelers.
It is worth pointing out that, for this, it is important to have a very well aligned planning with the profile of the traveler you want to serve.
Offer traveler safety in marketing campaigns
Another tourism marketing trend for this year is to highlight health protection actions. Travel agencies will have to demonstrate that they work with companies that comply with all health protocols in order to attract travelers.
The new tourist will have health security as one of the main issues when choosing a destination, accommodation, or service. And it is up to travel marketing to highlight all the measures taken in this regard by all its partners.
So keep up to date about the situation at each destination. Look for airlines and accommodations with commitments in line with those that your travel agency advertises.
Technology can be a great ally in this regard. This is because the measures against the spread of the virus ended up speeding up some automation processes that were being implemented.
One example is online check-ins and check-outs, as well as the new contactless payment possibilities. It is worth highlighting these actions to win over travelers.
The new tourist will come to you if the marketing campaign inspires confidence. The clearer your tourism agency’s communication is, the greater the chance of attracting the new tourist.
This is an issue that deserves a lot of attention from tour agencies in 2021. This is because it will be the new way to build customer loyalty.
Tour companies that offer hygiene, health, and safety to travelers will be able to have more loyal customers.
Digitalization is key for travel agencies in 2021
Everything has become more digital during the pandemic, and in tourism it can be no different. Companies are having to adapt to this new scenario to offer the best service. And the best way is to have technology as an ally to win over travelers.
The tourist is more connected. This makes the presence of travel agencies on the internet fundamental. If your company doesn’t have a website, a blog with relevant content, a practical online store, and doesn’t put itself on the social networks, it won’t be seen.
Among the main travel marketing trends for travel agencies in 2021 is the use of all available online tools. Your travel agency needs to carve out space on the Internet to reach the new tourist. Marketing strategies, however, must be thought out for each platform. Each social network has a language and reaches a specific audience, and you need to know how to communicate properly to be successful.
However, if you don’t have the knowledge or time to digitize your travel agency, you can hire an agency specialized in tourism marketing. This type of company takes care of your travel agency’s entire online presence, from visual identity to content production and social media management.
This is what Travel Media PR does, a strategic intelligence agency for the travel and tourism industry. It manages portals with high volume of access and advises on tourism marketing for destinations, hotels, services, and travel agencies.
Use visual resources
In this aspect, it is worth exploring visual resources. This will be an essential tool for travel marketing in 2021. Every travel dream starts with research about the place you want to visit. And what is the best way to attract the traveler? By showing all the beauty of the destinations.
To do this, bet on images that highlight the places. But a photo, by itself, is not able to detail the experiences that can be lived in these places. At this point, videos and virtual tours are excellent tools to bring your potential customer closer.
It is also worth investing in digital influencers to share experiences about your travel agency’s services. They have great potential to attract audiences to your travel agency, as they are trusted by their followers.
Value the role of the travel agent
Amidst all the chaos of travel cancellations and rebookings at the very beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the travel agent proved to be instrumental in providing good service.
And it will be no different in the post-Covid period. It is necessary to value the performance of this professional in tourism marketing campaigns. Counting on the assistance of a travel agent can make the experience even more personalized and humanized.
This is because he or she can accompany the entire trip and be ready to solve any interference. Besides suggesting the best tours and places to visit. In other words, the travel agent can be the tourist’s best friend.
Offering this kind of service can make all the difference in the marketing campaign of your travel agency in 2021.