Discover more from MaryTebje’s Talking Travel & Tourism

Is it all rainbows and unicorns? This is my new B2b newsletter where I will seek to put perspective on travel & tourism. I will gather together an industry snapshot, events, trends, policy, marketing comms, people, progress and the onward march of tech.

Travel Tips

I started my research asking friends for tips and advice. Their responses were revealing, and could apply to any destination.

Micro Travels with Mary Tebje

Jun 13, 2023

I started my travel research asking for advice from friends who had been to Venice. Where would they recommend I go, what is not to miss? I’ve always wanted to explore this city, so it made sense to start with them. Their advice was revealing.

A good choice of travel reading — There is plenty to choose from when looking for travel ideas and inspiration

Disappointing

I don’t know about you, but I am always more digitally alert just before taking a trip, spoilt for choice where to look and what to read: a reassuring old-school guidebook to pack into my cabin luggage for last minute ideas and planning? TripAdvisor? Who uses that anymore? Or from Instagrammers doing silly stuff on slippery steps or with fish? From official DMO sources that rarely come up tops in a Google sweep?

Friends remain the most trusted source, but on this occasion, they were focusing exclusively on the cost to eat and drink, rather than what to see. Not a word about visitor attractions, or secret places they had discovered. A disappointing sign of the times, when in-destination spending is under pressure. It looks like I’ll be going with the Venice flow, using my travel pass and with only two visitor attractions pre-booked my time will be free and flexible.

How are you communicating value-added to visitors? Keeping the locals in the loop and so targeting VFR visitors, is a must.

How things were done

A 1930’s French phrase book that will prepare you for a hostile holiday.

Here are some gems I discovered on the socials; from 1930’s sun & swim suits and phrase book, a Copenhagen city zoo campaign, bizarre bathing with swans to an AI-generated guidebook for Japan - it has had terrible reviews. Enjoy!

Links you will need

You might have seen the AI-generated guidebooks on sale with their terrible reviews? I wrote about using AI on a recent trip to Prague, this time, I am giving it a wide berth and leaving my decisions to how I feel on the day.

Where are your visitors travelling to this summer?