Tourism businesses multilingual challenge in overseas markets
20 November 2008
Tourism businesses in the South West are being challenged by South West Tourism to attract more overseas customers to the region in 2009 through using multi-lingual websites.
South West Tourism has teamed up with Kwintessential, a leading regional provider of cross cultural solutions, to launch an innovative competition giving three businesses the chance to win a multi-lingual website design package worth £500 for the New Year.
In these uncertain times businesses can seek to improve their marketing advantage and global reach by allowing prospective overseas customers to research in their own language every aspect of a holiday or business visit to the South West
All types of private sector tourism businesses; accommodation, attractions, cafes, restaurants & inns, tourism retail and transport operators are eligible for entry and there will be one winner from each of the eligible areas (the West of England [Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, Bristol, Bath and Somerset], Dorset and Wiltshire and Devon and Cornwall).
Malcolm Bell, South West Tourism Chief Executive of South West Tourism, cites the strategic importance of firms thinking about their global business development.
“In these challenging times, tourism operators should look to growth opportunities. This competition highlights the need to assist potential overseas customers in researching and planning their holidays in their own language both before and during the trip. Visitors from abroad tend to book earlier so the message is timely for next year along with the favourable euro exchange rate.”
Neil Payne, Kwintessential managing director said:
“We are delighted to bring our experience and expertise from working with exporting companies to tourism. For operators wishing to attract overseas visitors, a multi-lingual website reaches potential customers in their own language, improves search engine optimisation in chosen markets and demonstrates language and cultural understanding.”
The online entry form is available at: www.kwintessential.co.uk/competition.
Entrants simply describe what they are doing already to attract foreign visitors and/or why they feel they would benefit most from a website translation. The three winners will receive 1,000 words professionally translated into two languages of choice, advice on key messages across five web pages and micro website pages integrated and linked to their own website home page.
Deadline for entries is 3rd December.
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