It’s that time of year again and many of us are preparing for a return to normal when it comes to the seasonal onslaught of tourism. Even with high transportation costs people are traveling and still—hopefully—buying. If you’d like to attract more tourists to your place of business, here’s how you can prepare.

How to Appeal to Tourists

Many tourists are looking for something unique in a business, something they don’t have in their hometowns, and here in Yelm, we believe that we have that “special something” that visitors are looking for. Here are a few ideas to make a big impact on them whether you are in retail, the restaurant and bar industry, attractions, or services.

Create an Experience

Again, tourists are looking for something different. If you want them to visit you need to offer them an experience. This could be a class, special tasting, photo op, or any other “special” time. Whatever you decide on it needs to be marketed in a variety of outlets, try using Experience Olympia and Beyond, Destination Yelm, and of course, the Yelm Chamber of Commerce! Use the backdrop of the many festivals that happen in Yelm as your inspiration!

Offer a Special

Create a deal or special with a short window of opportunity. Buy one, get one offers are a good idea or a free item/service with purchase. Your free service could even be a sampling of a much longer service to entice a future purchase. For instance, a mini head massage with every facial. You can even give them the ability to extend the service for additional money. Who can say no to a longer massage when they are already feeling the benefit?

Host Contests

Run fun contests just for travelers like a prize at the end of the day for people who have traveled the farthest or a small, free item for anyone who is visiting from over 1,500 miles away. (This is also a great way to build a mailing list if you ask them to give their address to be eligible. Just make sure you give them an opt-out option and be transparent that you are adding them.)

Be Travel-friendly

We all know the limitations of plane travel when it comes to carry-on liquids and such. And with the rates that airlines charge for checked bags, many people are hesitant to do that. If you want more tourists to buy from you, you should consider offering ways to get your goods home to them. Offering shipping options is also great for those who decide to send something to loved ones.

Speaking of…

Some tourists may love your business, but they simply aren’t ready to buy. Or they may love your business so much that they want to continue a relationship with you after they return home. Perhaps they’re even thinking about doing some holiday shopping with you but aren’t quite ready to do it on that visit. If you don’t offer a website or mailing list, you’re missing out. On my travels, I visited a handmade hat store. Her work was beautiful and reasonably priced. I wanted to buy my hat-collecting husband one for his birthday, but he was with me, and we were only in town for a few hours. I discretely asked her for a card and if she had a website. No, purchases could only be made in store. The customer/seller relationship evaporated at that time with no further chance for the sale.

If you want to draw more tourists in this summer, follow these tips. Just remember that the relationship doesn’t have to end when their trip does. If you’re smart about your offerings and have a mailing list, social media, and/or website to keep in touch, you can continue sales (and the relationship) well into the future.