Here’s a tourism business that’s poised for success with an international market.
A River Bed is a self-contained retreat at Airey’s Inlet on the Great Ocean Road.
Already doing well domestically, Wendy Deighton is looking at ways to get the message out to potential visitors from overseas.
Given that the Great Ocean Road is a highly popular destination, we believe Wendy’s best bet is to have a presence on dynamic destination-focused sites, and this reflects her own plans to forge strong online links.
She is already listed on OzStayz, GreatOceanRoadHolidays.com.au and we have just put her in touch with Tim Kottek and Yvonne Hunter at GreatOceanRoad-Torquay.com.au.
These sites will certainly help to bring her attention from an overseas audience.
She is also keenly aware of the need for thorough keyword research to attract more visitors, and recognises something that we have also recently discovered – ‘kangaroo’ is one of the most highly searched wildlife terms!
Kangaroos have been seen on the front lawn and often on the other side of the river which guests can view from the studio – something that will definitely help her to get the attention of overseas visitors wanting a truly Australian experience.
Wendy also points to the difficulty some small operators face when clients want them to arrange every aspect of their trip for them.
Tourism operators aren’t travel agents, and you don’t want to spend time organising a complete holiday when you only benefit from one small part of the package.
Creative packaging with other tour operators in the same region can give overseas visitors exactly what they’re looking for though. Then all they have to do is book transport – very easy to do online.
In addition, each operator involved in the package promotes the whole deal, which brings more attention to you.
Beyond this, linking into the best destination sites and relevant online travel agencies means even if you get a direct enquiry from a high-maintenance client who wants more than you are able to offer, you can refer them to your affiliate site.
By funnelling destination searches into an effective site with recommended tours and accommodation neatly packaged – we believe operators such as Tim, Yvonne and Wendy could be onto a winner.
