When it comes to tourism, the experience can be broken down into three stages: pre-purchase, purchase, and post-purchase. Understanding these stages can help both travelers and tourism businesses create a more enjoyable and successful experience.
Pre-Purchase Stage
The pre-purchase stage is the first stage of the tourism experience. This stage involves everything leading up to the actual purchase of a travel product or service. During this stage, travelers are researching destinations, looking for deals, and making plans.
Research: Travelers typically begin by researching potential destinations. This research may include online searches, reading travel guides or blogs, and speaking with friends or family members who have visited the destination before.
Budgeting: Once a traveler has decided on a destination, they will typically begin budgeting for their trip. This may involve determining the cost of flights, accommodations, meals, activities and souvenirs.
Booking: Finally, during this stage travelers will book their travel product or service. This may include booking flights, hotels or tours.
Purchase Stage
The purchase stage is when travelers actually pay for their travel product or service. During this stage businesses need to ensure that the process is easy and seamless to avoid losing customers.
Pricing: When it comes to pricing tourism products and services businesses need to consider factors such as seasonality and demand in order to remain competitive while still generating profit.
Sales channels: Today’s travelers have many options when it comes to purchasing travel products and services including online marketplaces like Expedia or Travelocity as well as direct booking through airlines or hotels.
Post-Purchase Stage
The post-purchase stage is often overlooked but just as important as the pre-purchase stage. During this stage travelers will experience and evaluate their trip which can impact future travel decisions and word-of-mouth recommendations.
Travel Experience: During the post-purchase stage, travelers will experience the destination, hotel or tour they have booked. This stage is where the business can ensure that their branding and service is consistent with what was advertised during the pre-purchase stage.
Feedback: Finally, after the trip, travelers may leave feedback for businesses. This feedback can be used by businesses to improve their products and services as well as to promote their brand through positive reviews.
Conclusion
Understanding the three stages of tourism experience can help both travelers and businesses create a more enjoyable and successful experience. By taking into account each stage, businesses can ensure that customers are satisfied with their product or service while travelers can make informed decisions about their travel plans.