The role of PR in Tourism and Travel
Category: Insight, Ronn Torossian

The role of PR in Tourism and Travel

The tourism industry has recorded consistent growth over the years, and is therefore one of the fastest growing sectors of developing economies. It was estimated that tourism contributed $1 trillion to the global economy in 2017 alone.

Tourism is a major economic activity with a strong impact on regional development, employment creation and cultural heritage preservation. It also provides an opportunity for growth as well as promoting sustainable development while generating jobs, income and wealth for people, regions and countries.

In Europe, tourism accounts for around 10% of GDP and more than 5 million direct jobs. And besides its economic impact, tourism also has positive social and environmental effects on communities.

The Role of Technology in the Sector

Tourism has become more accessible thanks to improvements in technology and increased accessibility through airlines and other forms of transport. The implication is that people from all over can travel easily around the world without having to worry about their physical well-being when traveling long distances.

It also means that public relations professionals need to ensure that information about their destinations is available online so that travelers can plan their journeys effectively before leaving home

The importance of the travel and tourism sector has led to the development of numerous public relations campaigns designed to promote destinations and encourage visitors to travel. These campaigns often use traditional media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television to reach their audiences.

However, tourism and travel brands have also begun to explore social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to effectively reach new audiences.  This trend is evident in the increased presence of these brands on platforms like Instagram and Facebook especially, where they get to share catching images along with stories that intrigue prospective travelers.

Effective Tourism PR

Public relations plays an important role in the success of tourism companies. When people think about visiting a new country or city, they often find out as much as possible about it before they go. Public relations professionals work behind the scenes to make sure that the destination is portrayed in an attractive way so that travelers will be interested in visiting it.

The role of public relations in tourism and travel is to create awareness of the destination and its offerings in order to generate interest, raise the profile and promote sales. Public relations professionals can help a destination to build its reputation by establishing a favorable image for the destination through publications, events and advertising.

Public relations is essential for any business that wants to be successful. Still, it is even more critical for tourism destinations because it helps travel organizations show their strengths and build on their strongest points.

In tourism, PR plays an important role in attracting more visitors to a destination. When people visit a place and have a good experience, it will increase their desire to return. They recommend their friends about this place, and thus, it becomes an effective marketing tool for the tourism industry.

Tourism PR includes promoting events such as sporting events, festivals and cultural events taking place in the destination. To achieve these goals, tourism organizations should adopt a holistic approach by integrating their marketing activities with other stakeholders in their destination community.

This can be done through effective communication strategies that address all aspects of the tourism industry, such as accommodation providers, attractions operators and transportation services providers.


Ronn Torossian is the Founder & Chairman of 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently-owned PR firms in the United States.

With over 20 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America’s most prolific and well-respected Public Relations professionals.

The tourism industry has recorded consistent growth over the years, and is therefore one of the fastest growing sectors of developing economies. It was estimated that tourism contributed $1 trillion to the global economy in 2017 alone. Tourism is a major economic activity with a strong impact on regional development, employment creation and cultural heritage preservation. It also provides an opportunity for growth as well as promoting sustainable development while generating jobs, income and wealth for people, regions and countries. In Europe, tourism accounts for around 10% of GDP and more than 5 million direct jobs. And besides its economic impact, tourism also has positive social and environmental effects on communities. The Role of Technology in the Sector Tourism has…