Marketing tourism

Armin Gögele
last updated on
28 December 2022

Online Marketing in Tourism

Away from offline marketing methods such as posters, newspaper ads or other direct advertising, an online marketing strategy in tourism offers clear and measurable results that hoteliers can immediately analyse and use for optimisation. This includes search engine marketing (SEO / SEA marketing), newsletter marketing and social media marketing (organic social media support and SMA).

Social Media Marketing in Tourism

A subset of online marketing is advertising on social media platforms. One of the interesting things about social media marketing in tourism is that the hotel can reach different target groups on different platforms. Younger guests are more likely to be found on Instagram or TikTok, while families are more likely to be found on Facebook. In this way, individual guest addresses can be formulated, which can increase the awareness of the hotel brand and the occupancy rate of the rooms at the same time.

The most important questions about tourism marketing:

What is tourism marketing?

Tourism marketing is a branch of marketing that specialises in the promotion of tourism activities. The aim of tourism marketing is to increase the visibility and attractiveness of destinations in order to attract more tourists. Tourism marketing can be carried out by government tourism authorities, tour operators or regional tourism organisations.

Is organic or paid marketing better for my hotel?

Both marketing methods have their place in different communication channels. The example of social media shows that both are successful. Organic marketing does not involve additional advertising costs, but it is considered to take longer to build up a large reach. Patience pays off. Paid social media marketing is also designed to deliver measurable results right from the start. However, only a combination of both marketing methods will lead to success.

Which social media channels work well for tourism marketing?

Travel tips, destinations and worthwhile hotels are easily found online. Not only can hotels, tourism organisations or hotel companies position themselves well on Google, but there is also a clear trend coming from social media platforms. Especially on TikTok, Instagram or Facebook, social media marketing for hotels is seen as a clear recommendation for the respective marketing strategy in the hotel.

Book your Hotel Marketing Consultation:

15-Minute Expert Session - Free & without Obligation

Play
Getting started is that simple.
Discover the value of our expert consultation - concise, insightful, and free of obligation.
  • Exclusive one-on-one video call — free of charge, with no obligations
  • In-depth assessment of your current digital marketing setup
  • How to leverage guest data to drive direct revenue growth
  • Proven strategies to boost occupancy and booking performance
Schedule free consultation
Send request

Best Practices, Know-how and Success Stories: Read more articles

How Social Media Influences Google Search: The "Search Lift Study" for Leisure Hotels

Read article
Video ansehen
by David Weitlaner
March 2026

World's First Agency Partner in the Google Travel Analytics Center

Read article
Video ansehen
by David Weitlaner
February 2026

Perceived Control vs. Real Performance: How Your Advertising Account at ADDITIVE Delivers Maximum Clarity

Read article
Video ansehen
by Joachim Leiter
February 2026

Save Clicks and Increase Revenue with ADDITIVE+ VOUCHERS: The New Benchmark for Hotel Vouchers at the Front Desk and Online

Read article
Video ansehen
by Peter Putzer
February 2026

Identifying Market Opportunities Before They Become Visible - How ADDITIVE Clients Benefit From Exclusive Google Travel Data

Read article
Video ansehen
by David Weitlaner
January 2026