by When it comes to business sectors that were hit hard by the 2020 pandemic, tourism was perhaps one of the hardest hit due to the nature of the pandemic, and the best-practice methods needed to stave off the infection. The year 2020 was a year of multiple lockdowns worldwide, which caused many businesses to have to switch plans and use search engine optimization (SEO) if they were going to push through.
As a matter of fact, it was not so much gaining success as it was struggling to survive for many companies. With so many roadblocks for physical establishments, many companies were forced to make a push toward the online space to ensure that they could still find revenue. This led to many seeking the advice and assistance of an SEO Agency, to help increase their website rankings and be competitive in the online space. Companies in the tourism sector, small businesses in particular, struggled to look for ways to revitalize their brand during the pandemic.
Not giving up on tourism
That said, creativity has a tendency to shimmer in the face of restrictions, and the lockdowns undoubtedly forced company owners to get creative or risk shutting down in the face of the ongoing pandemic. With the best local SEO agencies looking for ways to help with online reputation management (ORM), tourism-based businesses had a lot to deal with in 2020.
Considering that the tourism business landscape was one of the hardest hit, it would take a lot of work to try to push for success.
Reinventing the wheel
One of the interesting things about the world of tourism is that it does not necessarily involve people traveling abroad and sightseeing. One of the trends that tourism companies came up with during 2020 to try and stay afloat would be an attempt at turning locals into tourists once more. It might seem like a strange notion, but the logic is surprisingly sound. After all, many people are suffering cabin fever from being cooped up in their homes for so long, especially those who can get practically anything they need online. Some of those people have not gone out of their homes for several months, and it can be challenging to focus on anything when such a significant part of a person’s lifestyle is taken away.
For tourism-based companies, the ongoing trend is to help locals regain control over their lifestyles once more by urging them to be the tourists instead. Many were simply grateful to have a place to visit, and the fact that very few people were traveling outside their hometown still kept the odds of infection quite low.
The rise of short-term stays and workplace havens
There was a time when the local hotel was a place for tourists to stay while they enjoyed the sights and sounds. Considering that the tourists have been practically replaced by the locals, it will be a much more common sight to see people visiting local hotels in an attempt to get a change of scenery — especially for those working from home. The best local SEO agencies help provide the necessary advertising for hotels that used to thrive on tourism, allowing them to connect with the local populace through the use of local search engine optimization. After all, there is a difference between the regular search and local search, with factors including the My Google Business listing and search keywords playing into local search.
There are also many families attempting to do a bit of traveling with the help of an RV, taking short vacations that might not go very far, but is enough to replenish the instinctive need to travel. It is an interesting time for everyone, and as further steps are taken to help counteract the virus, the year 2021 will likely be filled to the brim with locals enjoying the nearby hotel or gearing up for a short trip.
Extended stays to remote locations
Last but certainly not least, there will likely be a surge in visits to remote locations as time goes by. Considering how many people feel the need to step out of their homes after over a year of best-practice methods, the best way to do so without adding risk would be to head off to remote locations.
The bottom line is that the world of tourism, despite being the hardest hit by the many lockdowns of the previous year, is somehow surviving by reinventing the way tourism-based companies handled business and making strides to attract potential customers. It is quite fascinating how they can stay afloat despite many of the challenges, especially with the aid of the best local SEO agencies to improve their online reputation.
About the Author:
Ron Evan Tamayo
Ron Evan is a Digital Marketing Specialist and a writer who takes his time writing articles about traveling, psychology, and digital marketing. He learned about the digital marketing industry accidentally almost four years ago. He is currently based in Taiwan, taking up an MBA degree with a focus on Marketing. During his free time, he enjoys going to karaoke, traveling, and watching Netflix.
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