3 Smart Strategies to Boost Tourism in Your City in 2025

1. Offer Unique Experiences That Can’t Be Found Anywhere Else

People don’t just want to see a place - they want to be part of it. They crave experiences that allow them to engage with the local culture and community. Offering travelers the opportunity to take part in hands-on workshops, guided tours led by local experts, or self-guided curated tours around the city are all effective ways your destination can create memorable and meaningful experiences for visiting tourists. 

As the ideal companion for music enthusiasts, Visit Macon offers the Macon Music All Access VIP Pass. Those who purchase this experience receive access to a curated selection of Macon's significant music landmarks and live music venues through this pass. This allows them to seamlessly explore the city's storied musical heritage while also receiving exclusive deals. This pass not only enhances their visit but also supports local businesses and promotes Macon's unique cultural offerings. By providing these distinctive experiences, Visit Macon ensures tourists leave with lasting memories and a deeper connection to the city, an experience they can't find anywhere else.

Experiences that encourage participation don’t just leave a lasting impression—they market themselves. Travelers share what excites them, and the most exciting things are the ones they can do, not just observe. Cities that understand this will dominate in 2025.

2. Make Visiting Effortless

It doesn’t matter how amazing your attractions are if visitors can’t navigate them. Destinations that are accommodating and prioritize convenience will win!

Accessibility matters. If your destination isn’t easy to navigate for travelers with disabilities or families with strollers, you’re leaving money on the table. Places that get this right don't just attract more visitors - they’ll ensure those visitors leave with a positive impression. Visit Houston, for example, offers the Houston Sensory Friendly Activity Pass, a pass featuring fun attractions curated for visitors with sensory sensitivities. The pass provides considerations and guidance tailored to the passholders' needs. In addition, Houston provides discounts on these attractions, ensuring everyone can experience what Houston has to offer.

Making visiting effortless also includes having an accessible website and an easy way to discover experiences in your destination. An accessible and easy-to-navigate website ensures that all visitors, regardless of their abilities, can easily find information and plan their itinerary. Digital accessibility begins with the implementation of web-based assistance technology. Also, it can mean having a mobile-friendly website that offers local information about events, weather, and public transportation schedules, as well as providing an online platform with information on your destination and its experiences, including maps, opening hours, and more.

An effortless visit enhances the overall experience, making it easier for everyone to enjoy your destination's attractions without unnecessary barriers. 

3. Turn Locals Into Your Best Marketers

Most convincing travel recommendations don’t come from an ad campaign. They come from someone saying, “You have to check this out.” Cities that empower their residents to be those voices? They’ll be the ones people can’t stop talking about.

Through word-of-mouth, social media, or direct referrals, personal networks play an important role in increasing brand awareness. To help motivate locals to invite their family and friends, promote city attractions, tours and events with BOGO deals, free annual passes, or discounts on future experiences when they bring their visitors along. By tracking successful referrals, a company can turn daily interactions into valuable marketing opportunities. A local who invites friends to a brewery tour, for example, could receive a free drink or a discounted tasting.

Besides referrals, local media partnerships further amplify exposure. Collaborations with newspapers, radio stations, and community websites ensure businesses and events get in front of more people. Social media promotion also boosts organic reach by allowing locals to tag businesses, share their experiences, and use hashtags that attract visitors and residents alike.

The Bottom Line

The cities that will see real tourism growth in 2025 aren’t the ones just throwing more money at ads or leaning on the same old strategies. They’re the ones making the experience impossible to ignore and offering something inviting, easy, and genuinely different. The question isn’t whether people could visit your city. It’s whether you’re giving them a reason to.