Strategic Marketing Planning for the Tourism Industry
1. Core Idea
Tourism marketing ā just advertising.
Tourism marketing is:
* Research-based
* Analytical
* Goal-oriented
* Strategic
* Customer-focused
* Directed toward specific target segments
The objective is to create a product/service combination that provides real value, motivates purchase, and fulfills customer needs. HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
Big picture
The model is designed to help tourism organizations:
Analyze the marketplace ā develop a strategy ā implement it ā measure results ā adjust
It emphasizes quality, efficiency, effectiveness, planning, monitoring, and evaluation. HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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2. The Strategic Marketing Planning Framework
ā Memorize the sequence:
1. Needs Analysis
ā
2. Research & Analysis
ā
3. Creative Infusion
ā
4. Strategic Positioning
ā
5. Marketing Plan Development
ā
6. Training ā Implementation ā Evaluation & Adjustment
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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3. Step 1 ā Needs Analysis
Purpose:
Start with the organizationās broad objectives, NOT detailed goals.
Examples:
* Increase number of tourists
* Increase customer satisfaction
* Increase hotel guests
* Increase services purchased
* Increase repeat customers
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
Important:
At this stage, think big picture and keep the process open to creativity.
Stakeholder Team
Include people who can affect the tourism experience:
* Tourism organizations
* Hotels/resorts
* Airlines
* Transportation
* Restaurants
* Attractions
* Retailers
* Tour operators
* Travel agents
* Community leaders
Why?
Because the tourist experience involves many organizations, not just one business.
Key concept: Stakeholder cooperation creates a comprehensive and cohesive tourism experience. HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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4. Step 2 ā Research & Analysis ā
This is a critical step because:
Quality of analysis ā quality of strategy ā quality of outcome.
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
There are several important components.
A. FutureSeeking
Think about what the future marketplace might look like.
Questions include:
* Who will future customers be?
* Who will future competitors be?
* How will technology change tourism?
* How will customer lifestyles change?
* What will happen to the economy?
* How will politics/legislation affect tourism?
Purpose: Anticipate future opportunities and threats. HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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B. Internal Analysis
Examines the organization itself.
Includes:
SWOT
* Strengths
* Weaknesses
* Opportunities
* Threats
Also examines:
* Past sales
* Customers
* Profitability
* Product/service performance
* Product life cycle
* Core competencies
* Competitive advantages
* Customer satisfaction
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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C. Marketing Audit
A marketing audit examines the organizationās current marketing function.
Looks at:
* Marketing objectives
* Current marketing plans
* Marketing activities
* Positioning
* Target markets
* Sales channels
* Media
* Customer data
* Results vs. budget
* Results vs. marketing goals
Key point:
A marketing audit should be conducted periodically. HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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D. Industry & Market Assessment
This is an external analysis.
Looks at STEEP:
S ā Sociological
T ā Technological
E ā Economic
E ā Environmental
P ā Political
The article also recommends Porterās Model of Industry Competitiveness. HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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E. Competitor Analysis
Study competitorsā:
* Strengths
* Weaknesses
* Attractions
* Features
* Benefits
* Positioning
* Competitive advantages
Important concept:
Competition isnāt necessarily just another destination.
For example, a destination might compete with:
* Another vacation destination
* An amusement park
* A major purchase such as a boat
* Other ways consumers could spend their money
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
Perceptual Maps
Can be used to compare organizations/destinations based on variables such as:
* Positioning
* Price perceptions
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F. Customer Research
Study customersā:
* Needs
* Likes/dislikes
* Perceptions
* Satisfaction
Methods include:
* Qualitative research
* Quantitative research
* Primary research
* Secondary research
* Data mining
* Customer segmentation
* Target-market identification
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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5. Step 3 ā Creative Infusion
After conducting research, the stakeholder team uses creativity and innovation.
Purpose:
Turn factual research into:
* Innovative ideas
* āOutside-the-boxā thinking
* Visionary ideas
* Differentiation from competitors
Key distinction:
Research = facts/data
Creative Infusion = innovative ideas based on those facts
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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6. Step 4 ā Strategic Positioning ā
Research + Creative Infusion ā Positioning
Positioning
The perception of your organization/destination in the minds of target customers relative to competitors.
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
Positioning should consider:
* Customer needs
* Attractions
* Competitive advantages
* Competitor positioning
* Perceptual maps
* Creative ideas
Remember:
Positioning = āHow do customers see us compared with competitors?ā
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7. Step 5 ā Marketing Plan Development
A. Target Customer Segments
Each target segment should have a customized marketing plan based on its unique needs.
Also target:
* Prospects
* Repeat customers
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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B. SMART Goals ā
SMART =
* Specific
* Measurable
* Achievable
* Relevant
* Time-bound
Example:
Increase tourists from a specific target segment by 10% within one year.
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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C. Positioning Statement
Each target segment gets a positioning statement that:
* Fits the organizationās overall positioning
* Emphasizes qualities important to that segment
* Addresses that segmentās specific needs
* Connects with the desired image
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D. Strategies & Critical Success Factors
Develop strategies to achieve the goals.
Then identify Critical Success Factors (CSFs).
CSF = something that must happen/work for the plan to succeed.
Examples:
* Maintaining low crime
* Coordinating restaurants, attractions, and nightlife
* Ensuring employees reinforce the destinationās desired image
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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8. Marketing Mix
The plan must define the marketing mix:
Product
* Existing products/services
* New attractions
* New services
Price
* Overall pricing
Promotion
* Promotional activities
Sales Channels
* How customers access/buy the product
Strategic Alliances
* Partnerships with other organizations
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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9. Marketing Information System (MIS)
A Marketing Information System continuously collects and analyzes information about:
* Customers
* Prospects
* Competitors
* Industry trends
It produces reports that help marketers make decisions.
Important:
The article recommends developing a data warehouse as part of the system.
Purpose:
Better information ā better decisions ā ability to modify plans.
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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10. Budget
The final step of marketing-plan development is creating budgets based on projected sales and costs. HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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11. Step 6 ā Training, Implementation, Evaluation & Adjustment
Training
Training is essential for:
* Sales
* Service
* Leadership
Stakeholder organizations should also be trained so they reinforce the same:
Positioning + Image + Tourist Experience
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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Implementation
The plan is put into action.
It may begin with:
Concept testing ā Target market ā Evaluation
HFT+4509+Article+-+Strategic+Marketing+Planning+for+the+Tourism+Industry-1.docx
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Evaluation & Adjustment
Measure the results and adjust the plan based on performance.
This makes the framework dynamic rather than a one-time plan.
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š§ THE ENTIRE MODEL IN ONE FLOW
NEEDS
ā What are our broad objectives?
ā¬ļø
RESEARCH
ā What is happening internally, externally, with customers and competitors?
ā¬ļø
CREATIVITY
ā What innovative ideas can we develop from what we learned?
ā¬ļø
POSITIONING
ā How should our target customers perceive us relative to competitors?
ā¬ļø
MARKETING PLAN
ā Who are we targeting, what are our SMART goals, strategies, marketing mix, information systems and budget?
ā¬ļø
TRAIN + IMPLEMENT
ā Put the plan into action.
ā¬ļø
EVALUATE + ADJUST
ā Measure performance and modify the plan.
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