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Draft Final Report, 19 th July, 2012<br />

28.4 DEVELOP E-MARKETING, E-DISTRIBUTION AND E-<br />

COMMERCE<br />

The creative use of technology is crucial to the development of<br />

tourism to <strong>Montserrat</strong>. The internet provides the technology<br />

platform for <strong>Montserrat</strong> to establish itself in niche markets on<br />

an equal footing with its competitors at comparatively modest<br />

costs.<br />

Adequate resources must be allocated for this activity – not<br />

only for the development and management of the web site, but<br />

equally important, to recruit the necessary skills to manage,<br />

maintain and further develop the site.<br />

Priorities are:<br />

• Re-construct the MTB website more as vacation planner<br />

rather than information source<br />

− map of island highlighting visitor attractions<br />

− list and link product packages<br />

− list and link <strong>Montserrat</strong>ian foreign tour operators who<br />

feature these packages in their brochures<br />

− list and link ground tour operators who have packages<br />

− show how to get to <strong>Montserrat</strong>; links to the airlines and<br />

travel bookers<br />

− slide show on products.<br />

• Develop online reservation capability.<br />

• Sell advertising space (banners, pop-ups, etc).<br />

• Establish forums to interact with existing and potential<br />

customers – blog sites etc<br />

• Achieve search engine optimization.<br />

It is also important that private sector operators have attractive<br />

websites, linked to the MTB website.<br />

Driving Customers to the Sites<br />

Promoting the website is fundamental. Referencing the<br />

website in generic advertising, publicity and PR activities,<br />

while very important, is not sufficient. Focused web promotion<br />

is necessary and the allocation of a dedicated web-marketing<br />

budget is recommended.<br />

28.5 PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES<br />

In the selected markets a mix of promotional activities will<br />

need to be undertaken, to include:<br />

• advertising<br />

− limited general advertising in specific print media,<br />

which have long shelf life<br />

− niche market media<br />

− selected web sites (e.g. Total Vacations, Canada)<br />

• educational trips for journalists, travel writers<br />

− print media<br />

− Audubon, National Geographic<br />

• purchasing tours for overseas tour operators<br />

− one or two market per year, depending on new<br />

product development<br />

• collaterals<br />

− hiking trails guide in addition to existing range of<br />

collaterals<br />

• public relations/representation<br />

− press releases, advertorials<br />

− press trips<br />

• participation at holiday fairs/trade shows<br />

− when supply of ‘market ready’ product sufficiently big<br />

to justify participation.<br />

MONTSERRAT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2012 – 2022<br />

114

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