How to Showcase Destinations Effectively on a Travel Site
Destinations should be interesting and exciting to travel to. However, finding reliable information can be tricky for many people. Having great travel & tourism website development will help you provide useful website content which inspires your audience. You can provide them with information on how they will feel going there and a helpful summary.
1. Imagery
The first thing people will see is imagery. Ensuring you have a great website that showcases your destinations will help people get an accurate idea of what it looks like. Travel & tourism website design and development will ensure your imagery has a story. Keep your images original. If using stock images ensure they are representative of the destination. Add captions so people know what they are looking at. Descriptive alt text should be added. This helps people using screen readers understand the images with information. Keep your alt text relevant.
2. Group by interests
Not everyone will be looking for the same holiday. Some may want a relaxing beach break or others may want an adventure with hiking, culture, food, wildlife or family friendly experiences. Group your travel destination pages to help users find what they are looking for. Group your pages by:
- Beach: Islands, coastal towns and seaside resorts.
- Adventure: Walking trails, mountains and water.
- Culture: Historical areas, museums and local culture.
- Family-friendly: Easy to access attractions and family friendly.
- Foodie: Markets, food and cooking experiences.
Filters can be added to help users find what they want. Include Price, Seasonal, Length of stay, Accessibility and Activities.
3. Useful landing pages
Great travel & tourism website development means you can provide answers to any questions people may have before spending any money. With good tourism web design you can provide a landing page for each destination. Let people know what the destination is like and who may enjoy it. Include information on what the seasons are like, transport, where to stay, what to do, food and price. Include some information on the limitations of the destination. This includes busy times, steep walks, seasonal closures, local culture and weather (if verified). This will give people useful and honest information which will build trust with the right people. Avoid being vague by using phrases such as ‘there is something for everyone’. Be specific about what they can expect.
4. Helpful maps and itineraries
Maps can be very useful. Highlight key areas such as what to do, transport, areas, beaches and facilities. Group areas together to help people plan their itinerary for each day. Give examples of itineraries for different lengths of time. For example weekend, 3 day or weekly. Include realistic timings for travelling, resting and alternative activities for bad weather. Ensure there is enough time to breathe especially for families and people with limited mobility. If you are creating a city guide you could create a section with a museum, historical square and local market. Suggest doing something else in the afternoon.
5. Local knowledge
Generic information can be boring. Adding local knowledge will help people know why to trust your recommendations. Include helpful information about the markets, quieter areas to look at, transport and culture. Don’t just say how amazing the sand is when creating a marketing site for your destination. Include information on whether the beach is rocky, where to get shade, if there are lifeguards seasonally and how to get there without a car.
Ensure the information is accurate by speaking to local authorities/ those currently running the destination and include when you checked. Don’t invent any personal experiences, reviews or case studies. Instead mention who gathered the personal information or highlight any local knowledgeable people. Including original information shows you have real knowledge and useful information.
6. Trustworthy information
Including inspiring information will help to entice people but including helpful information will help people take action. Include information on:
- How long the trip will last and what is included in the tour.
- What the price is, including tax, deposits and cancellation policies.
- Where the accommodation will be and what facilities are available.
- Transport and accessibility.
- Contact details and FAQs.
Ensure information is consistent throughout your site. If the price varies depending on dates or number of people include some information to explain this. Add links to official resources to give information on how to get in and any safety requirements. Remind people to check the rules.
7. Mobile friendly and easy to navigate
People are often searching for information whilst on the go. Ensure your travel planning site has easy to find information. Keep the text easy to read, buttons clear, images compressed and the site easy to navigate. Keep the booking process short and include information on what happens next. Check key journeys on different screen sizes. Can they easily find the location, check availability, know what it costs and contact you without having to zoom in? If not, keep it simple.
8. Destination pages with clear actions
Carefully planning your travel content means every page will have a relevant action. Include buttons to see tour details, availability, guides, compare accommodation or talk to a specialist. Be specific with your calls to action.
Suggest similar destinations or activities. Ensure they are genuinely similar. For example if they are looking at somewhere with mountains they may enjoy the walking trails nearby or quieter village. Ensure suggestions are helpful. Any sponsored areas should be highlighted. Make it easy for people to go back to the original guide.
Final Thoughts
Creating a great destination page will inspire people and help them make informed decisions. Using great travel & tourism website development you can provide beautiful imagery, local knowledge, planning tools, easy to access and honest information. Get someone who doesn’t know much about the destination to plan a sample visit using just your site. Note down anything they aren’t sure about, can’t confirm or have to look elsewhere. Focus on improving these areas. Remember to think of each destination as a starting point. If they leave your site with fewer questions and know what to do next then your site has been very helpful.
The Custom Websites: Your Partner in Creating Engaging Travel Websites
The Custom Websites are a great partner for any travel business looking to create an eye-catching and intuitive website to entice potential customers. They help you create a website that will showcase your destinations, unique offerings and help potential customers plan their trips. With a focus on creating an engaging and functional website they can help you to improve your online presence. Check out their Clutch profile to find out more about what they offer.