How to Engage Tourists Using QR Codes?

A country’s beauty, such as its culture, landscape, monuments, food, etc., is only valid as long as tourists talk about it. Not only that, but a country’s economic growth also relies on tourists. Keeping the ‘Wow’ factor up always is a big challenge for the tourism industry, despite modern technology and advancement in digital media. 

That is because we aren’t leveraging the right one – mobile technology. Adopting mobile-based engagement strategies, such as QR Codes, is the right way to go. It is like using your customers’ most adaptive and convenient infrastructure (the smartphone) to provide a simple solution (interaction, communication, and engagement) through QR Code scans.

Where do tourist agencies lack?

Tourist agents and travel companies make a significant contribution to a nation’s GDP and enhance its global reputation. Therefore, their top priority should consistently be delivering unsurpassable, celebrating experiences to tourists so that they speak about the city to their friends and family. However, what’s lacking is continuous short-term engagement between tourists and agencies. 

For instance, we often hear visitors complaining about ‘the place was not on the map,’ ‘we couldn’t reach the sunset point in time,’ ‘we couldn’t enjoy the museum tour because it was in local language’ etc. 

Everything is there, at the right place – but pertinent information is not available. So, tourist agents should realize that every aspect of tourism should make tourists happy, from signboards to audio guides to travel booklets and event tickets and itineraries. 

The solution: QR codes for tourism and travel

Using a QR code offers multiple advantages for marketing strategy for travel agencies, making them a valuable tool for improving customer interaction and operational efficiency. Here’s why integrating QR codes into your business strategy can be highly beneficial:

• Better customer interaction: QR codes can connect customers quickly to useful information like tour details, special offers, and interactive maps.
• Increased efficiency: They help reduce the need for printed materials and simplify processes like booking and payments.
• Useful data: QR codes can track how customers use them, providing insights into their preferences and behaviors.

Since you only need a smartphone to scan QR codes, everyone has it today. What could be a better way to increase the information flow and improve the experience if not QR codes?

Read this detailed article on the 7 industries that can benefit the most from QR codes to enhance the user experience.

How to use QR codes for tourism marketing

QR codes can be utilized in various ways to promote your tourism business and improve customer engagement. Let’s see how you can make the most of QR codes in your tourism marketing strategy:

1. Advertise your business with a QR code linked to your website

Enhance your marketing efforts by incorporating QR codes into your print and digital materials. Add a QR code that leads directly to your website on brochures, posters, and visitor information centers. 

When travelers scan the URL QR code, they’ll be redirected to your website. There, they can explore your tours, learn about your services, and check out any special promotions. 

This makes it easier for potential customers to find and engage with your business, creating a smooth experience and helping them make informed decisions.

2. Enhance your online presence with a social media QR code

Integrating a QR code that links to your social media profiles in your marketing materials facilitates easy access to your online presence. Upon scanning the social media QR code, users can check and follow your profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

This helps build your online community and keeps travelers updated on your latest news, promotions, and content, fostering a stronger relationship with your audience.

3. Engage customers with video content using QR codes

Use QR codes to link to videos that showcase your tours and travel information. For instance, a Travel California brochure could link to a video of scenic beaches. Incorporating a video QR code or YouTube QR code adds a multimedia element that traditional brochures can’t offer.

It engages travelers with dynamic content like testimonials, tips, or highlights of your services. Customers who scan these QR codes can see compelling video content, such as tour previews or customer testimonials.

This direct access to engaging videos captures their attention and encourages them to explore your offerings further. We recommend keeping videos under one minute to maximize viewer engagement.

5. Use QR codes for discounts 

QR codes can be used to offer special deals and discounts. Include a coupon QR code in package brochures or promotional materials that provides a discount or exclusive offer when scanned.

Special deals incentivize travelers to choose your services over competitors. This encourages travelers to choose your services and fosters customer loyalty with enticing deals.

6. Network and collect contacts with digital business cards

For tourism agents and companies, a growing network is key to attracting more clients and getting referrals. Using a digital business card QR codes can help. 

You can add this QR code on physical business cards, as email signatures so people can scan it and get your contact and business details. Plus, creating a digital business card with QRCodeChimp allows you to collect the contact information of the person scanning the QR code. 

7. Help customers find you with a location QR code

To make it easier for travelers to find your business, add a Google Maps QR code to your marketing materials. Start by creating a QR code that links to your location on Google Maps. Then, include this QR code on your website, brochures, and travel itineraries.

When travelers scan the QR code, they’ll be taken to your location on Google Maps. This step can increase inquiries and visits, helping your business attract more customers.

Also read, Impact of Google Maps QR Codes on Tourism 

8. Share tour details with a PDF QR code

You can provide comprehensive tour information with your customers using a PDF QR code. This travel QR code links to a downloadable brochure or informational document, offering detailed insights into your tours and packages.

See how to convert PDF to QR code and eliminate the need for frequent printing and distribution of physical catalogs.

9. Facilitate payments with QR codes

Use QR codes to streamline payment processes using a QR code for payment. This allows customers to make payments using their smartphones, which is particularly useful for attractions and tour bookings.

Using a Payment QR code enhances convenience for travelers and speeds up the transaction process.

10. Collect immediate feedback from your travel guests

You can add thank the tourists and visitors while returning from the trip or right after the trip via emails. Include a Form QR code in the email that directs them to a feedback form. This allows guests to share their thoughts and suggestions from their homes. Collecting feedback gives you valuable insights to enhance your services and ensure every trip is as fabulous as possible.

11. Encourage Google Reviews with a QR code

Boost your online reputation using a QR code directing customers to your Google review page. Place this QR code in your marketing materials and follow-up communications to make it easy for satisfied customers to leave feedback.

Using the Google Review QR code makes it easy for customers to leave positive reviews. This can improve visibility, enhance your business’s reputation, and attract new clients.

12. Add QR codes to your emails

After a customer books a tour, include a QR code in their confirmation email to ensure they don’t miss out. This PDF Gallery QR code can prompt them to access multiple PDFs containing their ticket, trip details, places, people hosting them, and the meeting location with a guide for their convenience.

Moreover, you can take your email marketing to the next level by adding QR codes that link to your digital business cards, special offers, inquiries, or feedback. This adds an interactive touch to your emails and encourages recipients to engage more.

13. Boost app downloads using QR codes

Once a customer shows interest in your travel services, make sure they don’t miss out by including a QR code for tourism App in your promotional materials. This QR code will provide a link to download your app, making it easy for them to access and install it. 

So, create the “App download QR code” and make it easier for customers to access your app and start planning their travels. 

What are the best ways to implement QR codes for tourism?

Many cities have successfully implemented QR code tourism to engage tourists and dispense information. Even if they don’t understand the local language, they will recognize a QR Code and scan it. For instance, tourist agencies can use QR Codes in the following places to provide more information. 

In hotels

QR Codes can be printed on the hotel’s display boards, brochures, feedback forms, menu cards, elevator, and access cards. For instance, you can get a downloadable PDF QR Code printed on the room access card that redirects tourists to popular tourist destinations in the city, along with Google map links to each place. 

On transportation

You can print QR codes for travel and tourism plans on buses, cars, and other vehicles to share information about the place. Confused what all the details can you add in QR codes? You can add links to war videos, heritage and history, recipes of famous cuisines, nearby bus stops, directions to nearby Western Union, etc.

In public places

You can install QR codes for cities in public places, such as bus depots, parks, museums, and heritage sites, to support and guide tourists. For instance, the USA’s Central Park has several nature QR codes that store social media links, interesting cultural facts, and directions.

On brochures and tickets

Agencies can print itineraries, schedules, event information, such as game timetables, and other things in world languages. For instance, QR codes were prominently used to provide information at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. 

In important offices

QR codes can translate local language guidebooks and posters for tourists. Along with the city administration, you can also deploy a network of QR codes at different public utility places to help tourists report complaints. QR codes can redirect the tourists to a feedback or registration page to report issues upon scanning.

Conclusion

QR codes present a valuable opportunity for enhancing tourist engagement and improving the overall experience. Implementing QR codes across various touchpoints ensures that tourists have timely and relevant information at their fingertips. This way, you can enhance tourist’s experience and help tourist agencies maintain a high level of service and satisfaction, improving marketing strategy for travel agency.

With QRCodeChimp, you can create and customize QR codes, which allows for easy integration into your marketing strategy. QR codes can be customizable in colors, shapes, and with the company logo. Make sure you add a compelling call to action to encourage tourists to scan the QR code. 

Frequently asked questions