Today, travelers seek authentic experiences that connect them to the places they visit. Rather than checking iconic landmarks and popular destinations off their must-see lists, they prefer to interact with the region directly through experiences like guided outings and tours, local cultural events, and outdoor recreation.
Highly attuned to this shift, DestinationiQ has pivoted to promoting uncommon experiences where travelers collect memorable moments through engaging with the region and its residents.
Far from a trend, numerous factors are driving this change. The longing for authenticity, a craving for personal fulfillment and growth, and the influence of social media all play a role. The desire to avoid overcrowded areas and attractions motivates travelers to seek under-the-radar activities and places where they can find fresh, unforgettable experiences. In response, DestinationiQ develops detailed itineraries and promotes immersive activities that visitors can customize to their needs.
When a visitor experiences something memorable, they establish an emotional, personal bond to the place. Activities tailored to one’s distinct interests leave longer-lasting impressions that visitors want to share. In our social media age, creating unique moments visitors can post online establishes a shared positive feedback loop where others are inspired to join the experiential travel movement.
Experienced-based tourism benefits both the traveler and the destination. Through our promotion of attractions, experiences, and businesses, these travelers, who now feel intertwined with the area, prefer to support locally owned and operated establishments. Experiential travel often results in more overnight stays than traditional sightseeing trips, leading to more lodging tax collected, benefitting all residents.
Visitors experience a wide range of rewards:
While well-known landmarks cannot be ignored, DestinationiQ markets underutilized gems and lesser-known experiences. Not only does this attract visitors, but it also spreads out the economic benefits of tourism while mitigating overcrowding at high-traffic sites.
We collaborate with tourism boards, residents, local businesses, and artisans to create singular experiences that are true to the place, align tourism development with community needs, and promote cultural preservation.
To offer more personalized experiences, the DestinationiQ team designs, develops, and markets itineraries, activities, and experiences tailor-made to the individual traveler. By providing numerous themes like high adventure, family-friendly, leisure, and cultural immersion, visitors can follow (or mix and match) those best suited to their passions.
We promote unique experiences that bond visitors to the local community, history, and heritage. From excursions that reveal the spirit of a destination to art workshops to cultural outings, tour guides, artisans, and more are connecting travelers to the place.
By leveraging technology, we elevate experiential travel. Through location-aware apps, travelers can take self-guided tours to learn about the area’s history, wildlife, geology, and outdoor recreation opportunities. We also create custom-mapped routes where cyclists, off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, and the like can listen to turn-by-turn navigation, use live tracking, locate gas stations, attractions, and more through interactive offline maps.
Hiring social media influencers to showcase immersive experiences is an extremely effective way to reach new audiences with high visitor potential. By targeting an influencer’s niche audience, travelers see professionally made content about activities they love. For example, an influencer focused on rockhounding or birdwatching can attract travelers looking to experience these activities in a new location. The credibility and trust these influencers have gained with their online audiences cannot be understated.
Grow tourism in your region by contacting DestinationiQ today.
