Content Marketing and More Tourism Trends We’re Tracking at Skift This Week

Every week we post hundreds of stories across various sectors in travel, connecting the dots across various global trends, and in these weekend posts we highlight the stories that tackle these trends. This one looks at top tourism trends. For all of our trends roundups, go here.

>> Content marketing gives destinations something to talk to travelers about: Visit California Gets Into Content Marketing with 24-Hour YouTube Takeover

Content is king and tourism marketers are realizing that giving travelers a place to dream about, even before they are ready to book, is key building a brand and relationship with future visitors.

>> Booming destinations usually have a certain set of visitors to thank: Affluent Latin Americans Drive Miami’s Record-Setting Tourism Growth

The pace of growth has slowed over the past two years, but the rate of spending has increased as luxury visitors stay longer and spend more making their presence all the more significant.

>> Tourism drives city regeneration: Tourism Replaces Shipbuilding as Glasgow’s Economic Engine

Economic inequality persists, but the evolution of Glasgow’s shore highlights how tourism can be used by cities to provide jobs and attract dollars as the global economy changes.

>> Destinations’ branding challenged by big news topics: West Virginia Plans Tourism Branding Comeback After Chemical Spill

West Virginia’s brand was slightly tainted before the spill thanks to MTV’s show ‘Buckwild’. Rather than acknowledge the spill or MTV misrepresentation, the state should go back to what made its brand strong to begin with: a focus on the outdoors and active people.

>> Destinations’ branding challenged by big news topics: Hazardous Smog Is One of the Biggest Challenges to Beijing’s Tourism Growth

The implication of Beijing’s dangerous pollution problem expand far beyond tourism, but it is one of the sectors that will be increasingly impacted until the government handles the smog.

>> Forgotten historical sites find new life as tourist attractions: New Mexico Turns Closed Prison with History of Deadly Riots Into Tourist Attraction

More states and cities are realizing the economic potential of closed historical sites and successfully turning eyesores into job generators.

>> International travel continues to grow worldwide: Number of Americans That Traveled Internationally Increased 1% in 2013

The slight uptick in international trips mirros a global increase in overseas travel, but the regions with the greatest growth suggest Americans are beginning to explore more developing markets.

>> Destinations look to film starts for grassroots marketing and brand awareness: Australia Tourism Officials Hope ‘Modern Family’ Taping Attracts American Visitors

Visits from Ellen Degeneres and Oprah Winfrey both led to an increase in visitors suggesting the cast of ‘Modern Family’ will have a similar effect.