When I look at tourist destinations, I see more people turning to apps to digest information rather than guidebooks. Mobile apps have a lot going for them. Travelers can quickly access up to the minute information, note any changes in their plans, search for details quickly and centralize all of their data. They don’t need to go out of their way to get access to a mobile app, as they already have their smartphone available. Printed material can’t beat these advantages, yet I still see so many cities relying on them. They’re just leaving tourism revenue on the table.
How a Quality Mobile App Improves a Visitor’s Trip
Cities can help tourists move beyond the most popular attractions. Once they’ve seen the tourists traps, convenient local recommendations keep them learning about the city. Tourism departments also have the option to add events, seasonal attraction recommendations, a shopping and dining directory, a map and other useful information.
If the city has a robust public transit system, the app can go over how to use the options, links to schedules and the fare cost. Tourists get to experience more when they have expert information right in their pocket. Guide them through the distinct neighborhoods, clue them in on quirky local attractions and take them around to the best restaurants and cafes.
The Benefits of Being in the App Store
Some cities opt to stay out of the app store and only promote their app via their tourism website. However, over 13 million apps on iOS and 90 million on Android get downloaded every year. You can get a lot of eyes on your city if you upload your app and optimize it for store visibility.
The potential audience is substantial. It’s entirely possible that you can elevate your town into a visible destination location if you move your way to the top of the lists. Take your time and put together a valuable app, a strong product description and encourage your users to rate and review it. A bit of up-front effort now could bring in much higher tourist revenues in the future.
