What Does a Tourism Board Do?

By Michael Ferguson

A tourism board, also known as a destination marketing organization (DMO), is responsible for promoting a specific location as a travel destination. The primary goal of a tourism board is to increase the number of visitors to an area and generate revenue for local businesses.

But what exactly does a tourism board do? Let’s dive into the details.

Marketing and Promotion

One of the primary responsibilities of a tourism board is marketing and promotion. This includes creating advertising campaigns, developing promotional materials, and managing social media accounts. The goal is to showcase all the unique attractions and experiences that a destination has to offer and entice potential visitors to book their trip.

Sales and Public Relations

Tourism boards also work closely with travel agents, tour operators, and other industry professionals to sell their destination as a travel package. They attend trade shows, organize familiarization tours for travel agents, and host media events to showcase the best of what their location has to offer.

Visitor Services

Once visitors arrive at their destination, the tourism board is often responsible for providing information about local attractions, events, dining options, and accommodations. They may operate visitor centers or have staff available at key locations throughout the area.

Tourism Development

Tourism boards also play an important role in developing new attractions, events, and infrastructure that will appeal to travelers. This includes working with local businesses to improve the overall visitor experience and investing in new projects that will attract more tourists.

  • Collaboration:
    • Tourism boards often work in collaboration with other organizations such as chambers of commerce or economic development agencies.
  • Fundraising:
    • Tourism boards may also be responsible for fundraising efforts to support their marketing and promotional activities.
  • Research and Analysis:
    • Tourism boards conduct research and analysis to better understand visitor demographics, trends, and preferences. This information is used to inform marketing strategies and develop new initiatives.

Conclusion

In summary, tourism boards are responsible for promoting destinations as travel destinations, developing new attractions and infrastructure, providing visitor services, and collaborating with other organizations in the industry. Whether you’re planning a trip or looking to start a career in tourism, understanding the role of a tourism board is key to success in the industry.