One of the smartest things a city can do is to invite people to come and spend money. It helps if there is a compelling reason such as world class museums, historical cultural attractions, excellent weather, great food, great accommodations, corporate meeting facilities, and/or recreational stuff to do. But that's just a start, as there needs to be a cohesive plan, and each business needs to grab onto that theme and create marketing and branding synergy.
Ah yes, easier said than done, and anyone in this sector knows it, but that doesn't make it impossible. As a retired franchisor who has set up franchisees servicing customers in 400 cities and 23-states, I've seen it done right, and yes, I've also seen what happens when it is done wrong. Today, I am retired in a region with 150 golf courses, and visitors from around the world come to spend their various currencies in our city. "Excellent indeed," I say, but it didn't happen by accident.
If you run a business in the hospitality industry, or the travel or tourism industry, then there is a very good book that I'd like to recommend to you about marketing. It is a book that I own in my personal business library, and one you should too if you are serious. The name of the book is-"Marketing in Travel and Tourism" by Victor T.C. Middleton with Jackie Clarke, Butterworth and Heinemann a Division of Reed Publishers.
It is important to learn the five main sectors which surround the travel and tourism industry. You will begin to understand issues with supply and demand, and how you can affect buying behavior, referrals, and introduce branding to your area. You will learn how to mathematically calculate the amount of sales and tax revenue garnered from various businesses within the tourism industry in your region. Becoming a destination spot is not easy, but it is possible.
