Product Development  

Packaging the Experience

One of the biggest challenges for emerging tourism destinations is developing products in demand by today's travel consumers. Tourism products go beyond just a bed in a hotel room or an airport transfer. Although these are important product components, they should be packaged with additional services to provide the visitor experience in demand. Effective product development involves the ability to identify tourism services that can be packaged together and delivered to the consumer.

It's important to understand consumer demands to create effective products. Solimar's travel sales division interacts with travel consumers on a daily basis and understands the market trends. Solimar clients benefit from the combination of this hands-on knowledge with excellent industry research.

Today there are two noticeable trends in the types of tourism products in demand:

1) Travelers are in search of authentic travel experiences not services - travel that engages the senses, stimulates the mind, includes unique activities, and connects in personal ways with travelers on an emotional, physical, spiritual or intellectual level.*

2) Travelers want customized packages - The package should serve a starting point for consumers to plan their vacation, but must be flexible and allow for customization based on the unique and specific customer needs. In order to create flexible packages, information needs to be available and the sales force needs to be educated.

* Source:   Defining Tomorrow's Tourism Product: Packaging Experiences - An industry report prepared by:   Learning thru Leisure Consulting and Travel Learning Connections