Creating and maintaining credible, authentic destination brands can be a challenge with all the different – and sometimes diverging – interests involved. Yet, authentic visitor experiences require the destination branding and marketing to align with tourism realities “on the ground.”
To help destination marketers with this task, Leeds Metropolitan University and VisitEngland recently developed a marketing toolkit for destinations called Keep it Real, which puts the focus on tourism issues at a destination level.
The toolkit helps destinations to promote local businesses and initiatives that are leading examples of sustainable tourism.
Keep It Real – A sustainable tourism marketing toolkit for destinations from VisitEngland
Dr Davina Stanford, co-author of the toolkit and course leader for the masters degree in Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, said:
The toolkit consolidates some great examples of good practice from a range of organisations working for and with destinations in England. This compilation will help to inspire those working in destinations to think creatively about how best to communicate their own sustainability initiatives. It will be valuable resource for anyone wishing to know more about marketing sustainable destinations.
Keep it Real for destinations is available to download here.
One insight from the booklet that we find particularly relevant is that a better overall experience during their stay means visitors are more likely to respect and connect with the local culture, environment, residents and businesses.
You might also be interested in our short interview with booklet co-author Professor Xavier Font on how (not) to communicate sustainability as part of destination marketing.
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