The UAE is a country known for its bustling tourism sector and leveraging trade marketing for tourism can be a real game changer.

With an increasing population, unstable customer preference, and advancement of technology, tourism marketing strategies are essential for brands in the UAE to engage with their target market and ensure sustainable growth.

This article exposes brands to innovative and sustainable ways to attract tourists through B2B marketing strategies.

❖     Partnership and Collaboration

Collaborating with other local brands, hotels, and travel agencies is an effective way to attract more tourists through trade marketing in the UAE. As a country big on culture, this collaboration will mix business acumen with cultural richness leading to increased fortune. It will appeal greatly to international tourists as this will give them the chance to mix with the roots of the country. 

For instance, you could offer travel agents exclusive deals and in return, they generate tourist leads for you. The Dubai Expo 2020 is evident in how effective this can be. Collaborating with over 192 countries and thousands of local businesses, the country’s revenue from tourism increased by 15% over six months after over 24 million people visited the country.

Local partnerships not only place your business on a high pedestal, it also stimulate economic growth and make the country people’s one-stop global destination.

One way to ensure these partnerships work is by hosting a familiarization trip (FAM) where you invite key stakeholders like travel agents, influencers, hotels, etc., and show them an immersive experience of your destination.

Showing them what you offer will increase their chances of promoting your brand. Over time, organizing FAM trips has seen to yield high.

• B2B Platforms

There is a cloud of digital shift hovering over the tourism industry in the UAE. According to Travelperk, over 70% of tourists book their tickets online. Statista also revealed that as of 2023, the virtual travel market size globally sits at 600 billion dollars.

Using digital B2B platforms boosts tourism trade marketing by leading local businesses with global travel agencies. These platforms make it easy to arrange logistics, sort accommodation, and also conclude major tasks before the arrival of tourists or visitors.

As a business, you can also incorporate B2B tourism marketing resource tools like online trade marketplaces with the big players in the game. Expedia Partner Central is one of the platforms that allow businesses to reach a wide range of their target market.

B2B tourism marketing is crucial because it aids market penetration.

• Adopt and Implement Tourism Market Trends

Another strategy to attract more tourists is to understand the market preferences of these tourists and lock in on well-bred trends to nurture it. Some of the key trends to jump on include growth in luxury travel, rise in digital booking, sustainable tourism, mobile engagement and personalized services, and the increased demand for eco-tourism adventures.

• Leverage Data-Driven Marketing Campaigns

Harnessing the power of data in today’s age is essential to understand tourists’ behaviour. Adopting data-driven strategies and models will increase your brand’s trade marketing for tourism. It will direct you to channel all your marketing strategies effectively.

Tools like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can aid in collecting visitors’ data like feedback, booking habits, choice of vacation, family size, etc. These insights help to create a specific campaign that appeals to your target market.

For instance, UAE tourism market trends revealed that in 2024, the tourism sector recorded an ever-high 9.31 million international overnight visitors in the first half of 2024. A wide margin compared to 2023’s 8.5 million visitors.

Additionally, effective use of data for trade marketing solutions for UAE tourism can help to segment audiences. Your brand can customize its offerings to resonate with family needs, leading to a higher conversion rate. This level of precision in B2B Tourism Marketing further fosters better collaborations with other business partners.

• Utilize Influencers and Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves dealing with websites, travel blogs, and vlogs like TripAdvisor by offering incentives to encourage these outfits to promote your destination.

This is less costly and yields.

On the other side of the coin, influencer marketing is currently a leading tool in trade marketing for tourism but a lot of companies are yet to take advantage of this hack. Utilizing influencers’ large social media presence can boost your brand’s visibility.

While it could be costly, this strategy is a sure banker to attract more tourists through trade marketing. During the launch of the Dubai Desert Safari and Burj Khalifa, influencers played a huge role in attracting visitors to both places with their large followers.

However, not all marketing executives key into this idea. In March 2023, some marketing executives in the UAE were surveyed about their thoughts on influencer marketing being of immense benefit to tourism in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions on Tourism Marketing Strategies

How do I start trade marketing for my tourism business?

The first step is to identify prospects you can partner with. The market is wide and you cannot do it all alone. Then you can have personalized packages and attend industry trade shows to network and make an announcement.

How can small tourism businesses compete in the UAE market?

By streamlining their reach to specific segments, partnering with local operators, and being big on the adoption of technological tools, small businesses can make small strides and compete in the UAE market.

Conclusion

Attending tourism trade shows, expanding into emerging tourism segments, developing targeted marketing materials, and focusing on digital integration are other ways to attract tourists to your brand.