These quick tips are designed to help you get through these hard times. If you have any tips that you want to share, send them to marketing@tourismtiger.com(opens in a new tab)
The museum community, like the rest of the tourism industry, has been hard hit by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). As restrictions on movement increase and more people opt to social distance, many museums have closed. However, that doesn’t mean that they have stopped engaging with their visitors and neither should you! This is a virtual age and, with a little creativity, many activities are translatable into the virtual space. We’d like to share a couple of inspirational tips from the creative ways in which museums across the globe are adapting to our modern times.
Staying engaged through social media
Now more than ever it is important to stay engaged with would-be-visitors. People need to practice a little escapism these days and you can help them do so. Use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms to reach out to your tourists, past, and future. The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC has begun posting a daily moment of zen on social media. Others are sharing interesting facts and tidbits related to their collections via Twitter.(opens in a new tab)
As tour and activity operators, you have a wealth of knowledge and images of the beautiful sights that you visit on your tours. This is the perfect moment to share them. Be a calming force of positivity that helps people weather the current storm. They are not likely to forget it in the future. Pose questions and get people engaged with the content that your tours cover. Social media(opens in a new tab) is a great resource to make visitors part of the conversation even when they can’t visit.
Put virtual versions of your tours online
Sure, it’s never going to be as satisfying as seeing the sights in person but it is something new and exciting to do from the house. Museum staffs around the world are hard at work updating, publicizing, and curating their collections so that people don’t lose access to art. If you have a tour that visits a museum, check out what resources are available on their website. You might be able to incorporate these resources with your own knowledge to provide a cool online experience for your guests. It’s just like what you would usually do in person. Add your own commentary to resources that museums have to offer. Blog about specific pieces of arts or sites that you frequently visit in your tours. Share funny stories about art history on your social media accounts.
Many museums are also filming virtual tours of their collections. Is there a component of your tour that you could film? Have your most knowledgeable tour guide present, but be sure to stay two meters away from others. Embed these videos on your website or provide your virtual guests with links. You can use a combination of videos, photos, and write-ups of your knowledge. Make your virtual tours multi-spot and multi-media experiences. Have questions about getting a virtual tour on your website or tour websites in general?(opens in a new tab) At Tourism Tiger this is our expertise!
Using the time and talents of your staff during these slower days to stay engaged with your community is a great way to lay the groundwork for the future. As we said, people who find entertainment in your content during quarantine are not likely to forget the experience when this is all over. Check out the now trending hashtag #museumfromhome to see all the cool content museums are using and get inspired!
Find this article useful? Enter your details below to receive your FREE copy of 95 Epic Places To List Your Tours and receive regular updates from Tourism Tiger and leading industry experts.
By submitting this form, you agree to Tourism Tiger contacting you via email.