Nouvelles et blogues de Driftscape

Don't let your visitor engagement end when your office closes. Learn how BIAs and DMOs are using self guided digital tours and scavenger hunts to drive foot traffic and support local businesses 24/7—all without adding a single person to the payroll.

Tired of outdated paper maps? Digital tourism requires the ultimate playbook for launching a successful tour guide app. From "must-have" features like offline maps and gamification to real-world lessons from organizations like Downtown Carleton Place BIA and Bruce County, this guide covers it all. Learn how to avoid "content fatigue," drive foot traffic to local businesses, and use digital storytelling to turn your destination into a must-visit, immersive travel experience fo

What is the true tours meaning for your BIA or DMO? This post breaks down the critical differences between guided, self-guided, and audio tours. Learn why digital-first experiences are helping the Downtown Carleton Place BIA and the Town of Riverview reach thousands of visitors without increasing staff hours. We explore the ROI of gamification, how to choose the right format for your community, and why 24/7 accessibility is the new gold standard for local tourism engagement.

Think you need a huge budget and a fleet of guides to offer a world-class tour? Think again. We’re breaking down exactly what is a self guided tour and how BIAs and DMOs are using digital tools like Driftscape to save thousands on print costs while driving massive visitor engagement. From scavenger hunts by the Downtown Carleton Place BIA to audio tours at the Michigan Heroes Museum, learn how to turn your town's stories into a 24/7 visitor experience.

Tired of seeing your tourism budget end up in the recycling bin? Digital expert Andrew shares the essential pros and cons of shifting to a self-guided tour model. Learn how BIAs and museums are using cultural tourism and heritage tours to engage visitors 24/7 while collecting the data needed to prove ROI. Includes a 5-step launch checklist and real-world success stories to help you transition from static paper maps to an immersive travel experience.

Ever wonder how to turn a simple stroll through town into an immersive adventure? Here's the playbook on self-guided tours: what they are, why they beat paper maps, and how real towns like Carleton Place are using them to see massive increases in engagement. Learn the tactical steps to launch your own digital tour and see how interactive storytelling can support your local businesses without breaking the budget.

Running a destination doesn't have to be a guessing game. Andrew breaks down the channel-by-channel strategy for digital marketing in the tourism industry, showing you how to turn limited budgets into major foot traffic through organic content, targeted ads, and digital storytelling platforms.

Stop being a "folder-filler" and start being a digital concierge. Andrew breaks down how a smart tourism technology stack is helping DMOs and BIAs save thousands on print costs while driving massive engagement. Learn from real-world wins like Thunder Bay’s 25,000-view haunted house tour and see how the right digital tools can turn your local gems into a 24/7 immersive travel experience. It's time to work smarter, not harder.

Don't let the January slump quiet your streets. Learn how to design a winter walking tour app experience that locals actually use. By combining "warm-up" points, audio storytelling, and digital rewards, you can transform your downtown into an immersive winter destination that supports local businesses even in the coldest months.

Stop losing visitors when your doors close! Andrew explains how an audio tour guide app acts as a 24/7 digital concierge for BIAs and DMOs. Discover how towns like Riverview and Sussex use gamification and audio storytelling to drive foot traffic to local businesses and engage thousands of visitors without increasing staff workload. Learn the secret to scaling your destination's stories and saving thousands in print costs today.

The constant grind of managing tourism administration stops you from creating memorable visitor experiences. You don't have to hire more staff or work another weekend to build your destination branding. We compare three essential strategies—AI-powered business directories, mobile tour platforms, and gamification—that allow busy BIA and DMO teams to put their town on the map by enabling self-discovery and cutting down on manual admin tasks.

A self-guided tour doesn't need a huge team or budget. Learn how to launch a professional, engaging mobile tour in just seven days by following a quick-start checklist. We'll show small teams and tourism marketers how to curate content, assemble media, map points of interest, and launch a successful tour that drives foot traffic and engagement. You can use simple gamification, like contests and prizes, to boost participation.

Overwhelmed by content creation? It's time to put your destination marketing platform on autopilot. We get it—you’re trying to manage campaigns, update business listings, and launch new tours all at once. The solution isn't working harder; it’s automating the mundane. Use simple, smart strategies like AI-curated listings, turning your event calendar into instant tours, and using gamification to track engagement automatically. By adopting these 7 time-saving tips, you can recl

The winter season is a prime opportunity to launch a self-guided driving tour, turning scenic routes into high-engagement adventures. This how-to guide shows DMOs and tourism managers how to curate safety-conscious, interactive itineraries (like holiday light tours) using digital check-ins and gamified rewards. This strategy not only supports local businesses during the off-season but also provides invaluable visitor data on travel patterns.

Modern travelers seek authentic, interactive visitor experiences. DMOs can leverage simple mobile tools and gamification to transform passive visits into active exploration. Strategies like the Hardy Boys Scavenger Hunt (1,300+ completions) and the Bruce County rewards program (18,000+ visits) prove that low-effort, high-fun campaigns boost engagement, drive foot traffic to local businesses, and offer measurable ROI.

Tired of "shop local" flyers that don't work? The secret to boosting foot traffic and sales for your BIA or town is an interactive self guided walking tour. Learn Andrew's 3-step formula: 1) Map for discovery, not just history, by placing POIs near or inside businesses. 2) Gamify with digital coupons and rewards to drive conversions—like the Crescent Heights BIA saved over $6k in print costs. 3) Make it effortless with a mobile-first platform. Give people a fun, guided advent

The holiday season is a massive opportunity for small towns and BIAs, but the pressure to drive foot traffic is real. The solution isn't a bigger budget—it's a smart, self guided walking tour that leverages your existing charm. We’ve collected 10 fresh, engaging ideas—from 'Elf Hunts' to 'Ugly Sweater Showcases'—to help you launch a rewarding, low-staffing campaign that gets people shopping local and exploring your main street this winter.

Vous avez déjà ressenti la pression des saisons changeantes, vous demandant comment garder votre ville animée toute l’année, pas seulement pendant les heures de pointe? En tant que spécialiste du marketing touristique dans une petite ville ou gestionnaire des communications du BIA, vous savez que les visiteurs ont souvent des intérêts spécifiques liés à la période de l’année. Mais traduire cela en stratégies de marketing touristique concrètes et engageantes qui fonctionnent réellement peut être un vrai casse-tête, surtout avec le temps et les ressources limités.

Avez-vous déjà eu l’impression que vos visiteurs ne font qu’effleurer la surface de votre destination, manquant le véritable cœur de la communauté? Ou pire, que vos résidents locaux ne s’engagent pas vraiment avec les histoires et commerces uniques dans leur propre cour arrière? C’est un défi courant pour les DMO et les BIA : comment favoriser des liens plus profonds et créer une impression durable avec des ressources limitées? Souvent, ils recherchent une expérience de voyage immersive qui n’est tout simplement pas facile à trouver

En tant que coordonnateur d’événements ou organisateur de festivals, vous mettez tout votre cœur à créer des moments inoubliables. On rêve que chaque participant se sente vraiment immergé, découvre de nouveaux artistes et reste connecté bien après le dernier salut. Mais comment étendre cette magie au-delà de l’espace physique de l’événement, surtout quand votre public est en mouvement et avide de plus? (C’est un vrai défi de laisser une empreinte numérique durable à un événement éphémère!)