Digital Skills Apps and Tools for rural Tourism
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What to know before starting?

What to know before starting?  

What will you learn?
 Effectively use digital tools and applications to promote and manage rural businesses.
 Leverage digital technologies to:

  • Attract more visitors, 
  • Improve customer experience
  • Optimize the management of their operations in rural environments.

How much time will it take?
 30 minutes

EQF level 
Level 3

Who created the content and will recognise your learning?
This material was created by the partners of the Erasmus+ project “Upskilling Rural” that will recognise your learning as well. MORE.
 
Let’s start... but first watch this short video  

Let’s start... but first watch this short video

  
The Relevance of Digital Tools in Rural Tourism

The Relevance of Digital Tools in Rural Tourism  

Digital tools can offer practical solutions to overcome many of the common challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs:

Limited visibility: Rural businesses can struggle to stand out in a crowded market, but digital tools can help. Creating profiles on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google My Business, can help businesses share information, photos, and reviews that attract potential customers. A solid online presence makes it easier for businesses to be found by people interested in rural areas.

Online Competition: With the rise of digital tourism, online competition has intensified. However, digital tools offer practical ways to stand out. Entrepreneurs can use digital marketing strategies, such as social media advertising and content marketing, to differentiate themselves and communicate their unique value proposition. 

Reservation Management: Efficient reservation management is critical to the success of any tourism business. Digital tools, such as online reservation systems and customer management platforms, simplify this process. 

These tools allow entrepreneurs to easily manage reservations, track availability and communicate with customers quickly and efficiently. In addition, automating certain aspects of the booking process, such as confirmations and reminders, reduces the possibility of errors and improves the customer experience. 
 
Digital Tools and Useful Applications  

Booking Platforms:

Benefits: It makes it easier for customers to book accommodations, activities, and services online, increasing convenience and accessibility.

Examples: Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia.

Use in Rural Tourism: A rural hotel can use Booking.com to manage online bookings, reach a global audience, and increase occupancy during off-seasons.
 


Social Media Marketing Tools:

Benefits: allow businesses to promote their services, interact with customers and create an online community.

Examples: Facebook Business Manager, Instagram for Business, Twitter Ads.

Use in Rural Tourism: A tourist farm can use Instagram to share photos of its animals, landscapes and activities, attracting more visitors interested in authentic rural experiences.

Electronic Payment Solutions:

Benefits: facilitate secure and hassle-free transactions, increasing convenience for businesses and customers.

Examples: PayPal, Stripe, Square.

Use in Rural Tourism: A rural tour operator can use PayPal as a payment option on their website, allowing customers to book and pay for their activities quickly and securely from anywhere.


Customer Relationship Management (CRM):

Benefits: help organize and manage customer information, improve communication and deliver personalized experiences.

Examples: HubSpot CRM, Salesforce, Zoho CRM.

Use in Rural Tourism: An ecotourism company can use a CRM to track customer preferences and booking history, personalizing offers and communications to improve customer satisfaction and foster loyalty.


 

 
Practical Implementation of Digital Tools in Rural Tourism  

Using digital tools to enhance the customer experience at all stages of their rural tourism journey is critical to ensuring customer satisfaction and fostering long-term loyalty. Here are some simple ways to do this:

Research and Booking:

Optimized Website: Make sure you have a user-friendly, mobile-optimized website where customers can easily find information about your business, services and location. 
Online Booking Platform: Offer customers the option to book their experiences online through an integrated booking platform on your website or through third-party apps for added convenience.

Stay:

Transparent and Timely Communication: Digital communication tools, such as email or text messaging, provide customers with important information before arrival, such as travel instructions, activity schedules, and accommodation details.
Personalization: This involves using customer management systems to collect information about customer's preferences and needs and deliver personalized experiences during their stay, such as recommendations for additional activities or services based on their interests.

Subsequent Feedback:

Satisfaction Surveys: Send satisfaction surveys via email or online to collect customer feedback on their experience and areas for improvement.
Response and Follow-up: Respond quickly to customer comments and suggestions and follow up on actions to address any reported issues, demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction
Sources

Sources  
Resources

The tutor should engage participants by introducing participatory tasks and using real-life examples to demonstrate the practical nature of the information.

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