Think about the height and size of the poster. A poster should capture people's attention. However, don't make it so large that it will be difficult for a tourism office or travel agency do display. A poster that is 24-by-18-inches should give you ample space to convey your message to anyone reading it. For larger or smaller posters contact the advertising venue and find out their requirements. A campaign on public transit may allow for smaller placards and larger designs that take up much of the wall of a subway corridor.
Decide on the pictures you would like to use. A good picture should instantly bring to mind the destination. For instance, to encourage tourism to Paris, use imagines associated in the popular mind with that city such as the pyramid entrance to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Use a mixture of closeup shots and distant shots as well as pictures taken during the day and the evening. Use images of people as well as places. Computer programs such as Photoshop allow you to manipulate an image after it is scanned into a computer. This can help eliminate glare or focus attention on a specific detail.
Plan the text. A well-designed tourism poster features text as well as graphics. Use text carefully. The text should be easy to read and specific to the destination in question. Write copy that makes people immediately want to visit the destination in question. Play up the place's best features. If you are trying to entice people to visit the Bahamas, remind viewers of the country's white sand beaches and well stocked waters that teem with fish and marine mammals.
Use multiple languages. If you are advertising in a foreign language, use multiple languages for text in the poster. Place the words in a different corner or underneath the main text. Make sure they've been accurately translated and convey the message you're trying to get across.
Make the poster capture people's attention with promises of money saved. Use the poster to promote a current discount such as 20 percent off the admission to a specific attraction during a certain time frame. This strategy is effective if you are using the poster for a short term advertising campaign. Make sure to take the poster down once the discount is no longer in effect so you don't make people angry.
