Destination Marketing Organizations News

Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are evolving to meet the challenges of digital transformation, traveler behavior shifts, and sustainable tourism demands. PhocusWire covers the latest developments in destination marketing organizations, highlighting how tourism boards are adapting strategies, investing in technology, and redefining destination branding in a competitive global market.

Tourism board strategies and destination marketing insights

Our coverage explores how DMOs are using data-driven insights, social media engagement, and dynamic content to attract travelers and support local economies. From public-private partnerships to tech-forward visitor engagement platforms, we report on the strategic moves shaping the future of destination marketing.

New Zealand airs Middle-earth weather forecast [VIDEO]
News / Online
New Zealand airs Middle-earth weather forecast [VIDEO]
By Linda Fox | November 28, 2012
As part of efforts to transform itself into Middle-earth for today's global release of the first film in The Hobbit trilogy, New Zealand has also gone all Elvish for a long-range weather forecast Read More
After letting locals run the Twitter account, VisitSweden now wants visitors to meet them
News / Online
After letting locals run the Twitter account, VisitSweden now wants visitors to meet them
By Kevin May | November 21, 2012
Citizens of Sweden were thrust into the limelight this year when the national tourism authority gave them the chance to share their lives on its official Twitter profile. Read More
VisitBritain wants you to share its Bond-themed contest as much as Adele's Skyfall video
News / Online
VisitBritain wants you to share its Bond-themed contest as much as Adele's Skyfall video
By Sean O'Neil | October 8, 2012
About 16 million people have listened to Adele's theme song for Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond movie. VisitBritain hopes to hang on to the tuxedo coattails of 007's popularity by launching its own... Read More
Hello Kitty takes tourists around Tokyo with colorful digital gusto
News / Online
Hello Kitty takes tourists around Tokyo with colorful digital gusto
By Nick Vivion | October 8, 2012
Visit Japan, also known as the Japan Toursim Agency, has capitalized on this worldwide obsession in a digitally native way - a Hello Kitty iPhone app. Yes, Hello Kitty is now available for your next... Read More
Australian distribution strategy could be template for other tourism boards
News / Online
Australian distribution strategy could be template for other tourism boards
By Stephen Joyce | October 4, 2012
The US government recently released its first progress report since launching its ambitious plan to brand America and grow visitor numbers to the country. Read More
Turns out, social media is a pain in the ass for destinations
News / Online
Turns out, social media is a pain in the ass for destinations
By Troy Thompson | October 3, 2012
Okay, maybe not a total pain in the ass - perhaps massively confusing. ROI, influence, Pinterest, fans, followers, friends - where do we go from here? Read More
VisitBritain puts 007 at heart of latest tourism campaign
News / Online
VisitBritain puts 007 at heart of latest tourism campaign
By Linda Fox | October 3, 2012
VisitBritain will kick off a campaign across key inbound markets on Friday piggy backing off hype around the latest 007 film, Skyfall Read More
Augmented reality and filters gone mad - add the Northern Lights to any travel picture
News / Online
Augmented reality and filters gone mad - add the Northern Lights to any travel picture
By Kevin May | September 18, 2012
Such is the craze for allowing the amateur photographer to turn their images into semi-professional masterpieces via filters, all manner of services are now hitting the market. Read More
Marketing a destination mobile app - the sweat equity approach
News / Online
Marketing a destination mobile app - the sweat equity approach
By Viewpoints | August 29, 2012
More than half of the adults in the United States alone already own smartphones. Look around any coffee shop to see why you want your destination’s information behind those ubiquitous mobile screens. Read More
Are small tourism businesses lacking in best practice when it comes to the web?
News / Online
Are small tourism businesses lacking in best practice when it comes to the web?
By Stephen Joyce | August 23, 2012
Ask anyone who has worked with a variety of tour and activity operators and they will probably tell you that there are as many ways of doing business as there are operators. Read More
Czech Republic tourism drive targets Facebook mood, rebrands as Czech RepubLIKE
News / Online
Czech Republic tourism drive targets Facebook mood, rebrands as Czech RepubLIKE
By Kevin May | July 23, 2012
Either a very clever or a groan-inducing approach from the Czech Republic, with tourism officials paying homage to Facebook by making Czech RepubLIKE its new slogan. Read More
Maldives twitter campaign turns sour as human rights protesters air discontent
News / Online
Maldives twitter campaign turns sour as human rights protesters air discontent
By Linda Fox | July 18, 2012
Another 'what were they thinking?' moment on Twitter this week with the Maldives Tourism Board's campaign taking a spectacular dive since its launch six days ago Read More
Qantas launches Hooroo accommodation and social media spin-off website
News / Online
Qantas launches Hooroo accommodation and social media spin-off website
By Kevin May | July 18, 2012
In what is being billed as an attempt to boost domestic tourism, Qantas has unveiled a service called Hooroo combining hotel search and booking with a big emphasis on social media. Read More
Destinations failing to make most of technology to attract and engage visitors
News / Online
Destinations failing to make most of technology to attract and engage visitors
By Kevin May | July 17, 2012
Destinations - and those charged with promoting cities or countries - do not understand how to exploit the vast array of technology and techniques to attract visitors. Read More
How destinations can use data to reach their target audiences
News / Online
How destinations can use data to reach their target audiences
By Viewpoints | July 16, 2012
Over the past several years, attractive offers from across the entire tourism spectrum have made travel more accessible than ever. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026