10 Insights for your Tourism Team
Dear tourism teams,
As you sit down and plan your 2026 season, please stop and take a minute to read how you can increase your visitors. As a person who visits hundreds of places a year (no joke, I’ve already been to over 30 this year), I want to share the key things that make a difference in visitor experience and revenue.
1. Charging for children 17 and under
Hear me out, I know this one is hard to swallow. If you let kids in for free, parents will spend that money elsewhere: your food court, gift shop, and on-site experiences. They’ll also tell their friends. Your tourism revenue can more than triple.
2. Not having anything to touch
I love old home tours, but there’s nothing to interact with. You can’t sit, you can’t touch, nothing. And this isn’t just for kids, adults want hands-on experiences too. Pass around an old metal bullet, a piece of fabric, something. Physical interaction makes history real and memorable.
3. No photos allowed
Yikes. As a travel content creator who has sent many people to places based on photos alone, this may be your biggest mistake. I get no flash, but banning photography altogether? You can photograph the Mona Lisa, your site is not more fragile than that. Photos are free marketing, blocking them blocks exposure.
4. Parking and access
When parking is a nightmare and there’s no shuttle or caddy to take visitors to the door, it hurts the experience. You can afford a golf cart or two. Easy access matters, especially for families, older visitors, and anyone deciding whether the trip is worth it.
5. Make online ticketing easy
Your website should allow people to order tickets in advance. Some plan tours a year ahead, your site should support that.
6. Offer educator/student discounts
Don’t just give discounts to seniors or the military. Teachers and students are likely to bring groups and spread the word. Even better, host a free day just for locals in your county. Make sure it’s on a weekend, not a weekday, so people who work can attend. Pick a Sunday when you’re normally closed and give tours to residents for free. It builds goodwill, community support, and word-of-mouth marketing.
7. Make experiences worth it
People buy experiences, not just admission. Too often, we’ve paid and left disappointed. Make the visit memorable and valuable, it keeps people coming back.
8. Offer both free and paid entry
The more you give for free, the more likely visitors are to upgrade to a paid experience. Free access creates excitement and trust. There are places that we have been that offer two paid experiences and I haven’t been back because I had to pay for both of them. Had one been free (like the entry) we would return.
9. Bathrooms matter
Make them accessible for kids and strollers. Women’s restrooms should be larger with more toilets. Simple comfort goes a long way.
10. Free water
Especially on hot days, make water available for free. Small gestures like this improve visitor satisfaction and keep them happy.
Planning an unforgettable visitor experience goes beyond traditional sightseeing; it’s about creating meaningful interactions that resonate with every guest. Based on my personal travels to over 30 destinations this year, I’ve noticed how hands-on activities significantly elevate the enjoyment factor. Whether it’s letting guests touch artifacts or participate in themed workshops, these tangible moments help stories come alive and create lasting memories. I also learned the importance of accessibility from a family perspective. For destinations struggling with parking or access, investing in shuttle services or golf carts makes trips more convenient and appealing, especially for those with young children or mobility challenges. Ensuring that amenities like restrooms are spacious and accommodating for strollers and families greatly boosts comfort and goodwill. Digital convenience cannot be overstated — easy online ticketing allows planners to secure their visits far in advance, reducing friction and increasing attendance. Offering tiered experiences with free admission options builds trust and invites repeat visits, enhancing community engagement. Small, thoughtful touches like free water stations on hot days profoundly impact visitor satisfaction. It reflects genuine care and contributes to positive word-of-mouth referrals among peers and travel content creators alike. Finally, embracing photography as a tool for organic marketing is crucial. Restricting photos limits exposure; instead, encouraging tasteful, non-flash photography invites visitors to share their experiences widely, driving interest and future traffic. All these insights together create a stronger, more memorable tourism experience that drives revenue and builds a loyal visitor base for the long term.
