No stranger to magazine and newspaper ads, the tourism industry spends large amounts of money each year on strategically placed advertising. However, the method has become more refined and prolific. Magazines devoted solely to travel are in stronger abundance than ever before. National Geographic, for example, profiled the history and ways of life for various cultures and animal species all over the world. Now, with National Geographic Traveler magazine, they now have a much stronger platform to promote tourism through vibrant photographs and more lengthy articles. Outdoor Photographer magazine and Photo & Travel magazine both fill their issues to the brim with pictures and print media that capture the interest of individuals looking for a new place to explore.
Television ads and specials are also extremely important to the travel industry. Vision media via television broadcast comes in many forms, including travel pieces focusing on food, hotels, resorts or historical sites. The Food Network, home to travel shows such as "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and "Ham on the Street" gives plenty of visual opportunities for viewers to experience first-hand the cuisine of local favorites and international food dining destinations. The Travel Channel also profiles tourism sites, such as those featured on the show "Best Places I've Ever Been". The visual combination of vacation locale shots combined with recognizable celebrities serving as tour guide provides the ultimate in tourism promotion via home television. Travel commercials are also greatly important to the promotion of tourism on every TV channel. Capturing the essence of a destination in less than a minute means packing in a lot of pictures and stunning video shots that will stick to the hearts and minds of viewers.
Tourism has likely never benefited more from print and vision media than it has with the dawn of the Internet. Practically every town, county, city, state and nation has its own personal homepage, touting what is best about the location. Banner ads are often strategically placed on top websites, and the print and pictures are usually geared toward the demographic of visitors. A financial or professional website visited by those with high-stress jobs may feature an ad for a relaxing destination spa or outdoor getaway. Children's websites will often feature ads for Disneyland or other child-friendly amusements. Through print and vision media, people can become hooked on what they see, and the tourism industry benefits from each and every click.
Many people can tell you of a specific billboard they've seen on the side of the freeway as they drove by. This is usually because it is located on a familiar route, such as a work commute, school drop off or on the way to church. People begin to memorize these billboards when they see them frequently, and when vacation time comes along, these images have stuck in their minds. Billboards are a powerful way for tourist destinations to give a super-sized image example of what they have to offer, to those who wish they were somewhere else besides the car on the way to another routine day. Electronic billboards, which rotate images and advertisements, have made even more room for travel agencies and resort owners to advertise what they have to offer without spending a fortune. With smart phones increasing in popularity, a website displayed on a billboard can often be looked up right away during the drive, assuring that individuals will remember what they've seen.
