The Potential of Travel Bloggers in Marketing Tourist Destinations: The Example of The “A Blogger for Italy” Platform (Published)
The study analyses the role of the travel blogger as a contemporary expression of tourism marketing. In the new digital reality, travel bloggers perform the intermediary function between destination and customer that in the offline world has long been performed by traditional tour operators and travel agents. The message of these influencers can be much more effective than the expensive advertising campaigns implemented by tourism organizations through traditional marketing channels. Establishing a connection between travel bloggers and tour operators, therefore becomes a crucial strategy for exploiting the potential offered by the ITC in the field of tourism promotion. Within this vision, and as an example of good practice, the study illustrates the digital platform “A blogger for Italy” which is one of the first attempts to create, at a national level, a structured network between travel bloggers and tour operators. The study suggests that travel bloggers can become ambassadors of territoriality especially with reference to places away from the usual mass tourism routes and for which a growing segment of tourism demand shows renewed interest.
Citation: Monica Iorio (2022) The Potential of Travel Bloggers in Marketing Tourist Destinations: The Example of The “A Blogger for Italy” Platform, European Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, Vol.10, No.2, pp., 1-15
Keywords: Marketing, tourist image, travel blogger, travel stories
Digital Marketing and Consumer Behavioral Pattern of Fast Food Business Enterprises in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State (Published)
The study examined the relationship between digital marketing and consumer behavioral pattern in fast food business enterprises in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Two dimensions of digital marketing which were social media marketing and email marketing were adopted for the study to narrow down the scope, and also customer loyalty was adopted as a measure of consumer behavioral pattern to enable the study ascertain the relationship between the two variables. Both variables were analyzed extensively alongside their dimensions and measure. The conducted a survey of empirical works on the subject matter, forming a basis for the establishment of the justification for the study. The study adopted the Commitment Trust Theory developed by Robert and Shelby (1994), which is premised on the value of trust and commitment to the buying behaviour of customers. In order to further the study, primary data was generated from the administration of 200 copies of a questionnaire to a total of 200 customer respondents of the fast-food enterprises in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The Pearson correlation coefficient method was used in the analysis of the data to establish a relationship between the variables, and pointed to a positive relationship between both social media, and email marketing as dimensions of digital marketing, and customer loyalty as a measure of consumer behavioral pattern
Keywords: Customer loyalty, Digital, Email, Marketing, Social media, consumer behavioral pattern
MOTIVATION OF TOURISTS THROUGH MARKETING STRATEGIES OF OLUMO ROCK TOURIST COMPLEX (Published)
In Nigeria, Travel and Tourism had contributed immensely to the growth of GDP and also to employment. Tourism marketing in destination must take into consideration the behaviour of visitors for effective campaign design. The study investigates how visitors got information about the Complex and major motivating factors that attract visitors to the Complex. Structured questionnaire was employed to obtain information on the major objectives of the study. Majority of the visitors to the complex are youths. Visitors preferred use of brochures, travel guides and social media as marketing strategies. Push factors are observed to motivate tourists more for fun, excitement, relaxation and sightseeing. Tourists’ sources of awareness to the Complex are not different in respect to their demographics; also visitors who organise visits for themselves complain less about challenges of the Complex. Management of the Complex must endeavour to improve on infrastructure and recreational facilities for fun, sightseeing, relaxation and excitement.
Keywords: Information, Marketing, Motivation, Olumo Rock Tourist Complex, Tourists