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Tour Guide App: Must-Have Features, Content Tips, and Common Mistakes
Tired of outdated paper maps? Digital tourism requires the ultimate playbook for launching a successful tour guide app. From "must-have" features like offline maps and gamification to real-world lessons from organizations like Downtown Carleton Place BIA and Bruce County, this guide covers it all. Learn how to avoid "content fatigue," drive foot traffic to local businesses, and use digital storytelling to turn your destination into a must-visit, immersive travel experience fo

Andrew Applebaum
6 days ago4 min read


Tours Meaning: Guided vs Self-Guided vs Audio Tours (and When Each Wins)
What is the true tours meaning for your BIA or DMO? This post breaks down the critical differences between guided, self-guided, and audio tours. Learn why digital-first experiences are helping the Downtown Carleton Place BIA and the Town of Riverview reach thousands of visitors without increasing staff hours. We explore the ROI of gamification, how to choose the right format for your community, and why 24/7 accessibility is the new gold standard for local tourism engagement.

Andrew Applebaum
Feb 173 min read


Self Guided Walking Tour: How to Design a Route People Actually Finish
Stop losing visitors at stop three. This guide breaks down how to design a self guided walking tour that people actually finish. From the "Breadcrumb" storytelling method to the gamification secrets used by the Downtown Carleton Place BIA, learn how to turn a simple walk into an immersive travel experience that drives foot traffic and supports local businesses.

Andrew Applebaum
Feb 123 min read


Self-Guided Tours: Pros/Cons + Launch Checklist for Destinations and Museums
Tired of seeing your tourism budget end up in the recycling bin? Digital expert Andrew shares the essential pros and cons of shifting to a self-guided tour model. Learn how BIAs and museums are using cultural tourism and heritage tours to engage visitors 24/7 while collecting the data needed to prove ROI. Includes a 5-step launch checklist and real-world success stories to help you transition from static paper maps to an immersive travel experience.

Andrew Applebaum
Feb 53 min read


Self Guided Tour: What It Is, How It Works, and Real Examples
Ever wonder how to turn a simple stroll through town into an immersive adventure? Here's the playbook on self-guided tours: what they are, why they beat paper maps, and how real towns like Carleton Place are using them to see massive increases in engagement. Learn the tactical steps to launch your own digital tour and see how interactive storytelling can support your local businesses without breaking the budget.

Andrew Applebaum
Feb 33 min read


Marketing in Travel: 9 Tactics to Increase Visitation Without a Bigger Budget
Marketing in travel doesn't have to break the bank. Andrew, our digital tourism expert, shares 9 practical, low-cost tactics to increase visitation. From the success of Downtown Carleton Place BIA’s scavenger hunts to Bruce County’s reward-based engagement, learn how to use digital tools to turn existing local assets into major visitor draws.

Andrew Applebaum
Jan 274 min read


Seasonal Tourism Marketing That Works: 7 Real Ideas from Towns Like Yours
Ever feel the pressure of the changing seasons, wondering how to keep your town buzzing year-round, not just during peak times? As a small-town tourism marketer or a BIA communications manager, you know that visitors often have specific interests tied to the time of year. But translating that into concrete, engaging tourism marketing strategies that actually work can be a real head-scratcher, especially with limited time and resources.

Andrew Applebaum
Oct 31, 20254 min read


Bring Culture to Life: How One Cultural Site App Can Make History Feel Personal
Have you ever felt like creating an amazing self-guided tour means you need a massive budget and a dedicated tech team? As a tourism pro,...

Andrew Applebaum
Aug 27, 20254 min read


Expand Your Reach: Driftscape Now Speaks Spanish
Spanish auto-translation is now live in Driftscape. 100% of your English content—tours, POIs, listings, captions—can be viewed in Spanish (and French) by default, no extra uploads or cost. Visitors can switch a single item to Spanish (or French) or set the whole app language. Powered by Google Translate, with full control to edit phrasing in the CMS. Reach more travelers and boost engagement without changing your workflow.

Andrew Applebaum
Aug 21, 20252 min read


You Don’t Need a Tech Team to Build a Tour That Locals Love and Tourists Share
Ever felt that surge of pride when someone truly "gets" your town? As a BIA manager, chamber director, or tourism coordinator, you know the unique stories, hidden gems, and vibrant businesses that make your community special. But how do you share that magic beyond official guides and brochures, especially when resources are tight and a dedicated tech team feels like a pipe dream? (Believe me, I hear you!) It's all about delivering an amazing immersive travel experience.

Andrew Applebaum
Aug 7, 20255 min read


Explore the Magic of the Silver Screen: North Bay’s Self-Guided Film Tour on Driftscape
Did you know that North Bay has served as the backdrop for some of the most beloved holiday movies and television productions? From...

Driftscape
Dec 9, 20242 min read
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