Driftscape News  & Blogs

Stop restocking soggy paper brochures! Our 2026 Destination Marketing Playbook shows busy tourism teams how to trade manual tasks for digital tools that work 24/7. From Riverview’s "Business Bee" hunt to Crescent Heights BIA saving thousands in print costs, we explore real examples of how small towns are using gamification and self-guided tours to drive foot traffic.

Don't let the January slump quiet your streets. Learn how to design a winter walking tour app experience that locals actually use. By combining "warm-up" points, audio storytelling, and digital rewards, you can transform your downtown into an immersive winter destination that supports local businesses even in the coldest months.

Stop losing visitors when your doors close! Andrew explains how an audio tour guide app acts as a 24/7 digital concierge for BIAs and DMOs. Discover how towns like Riverview and Sussex use gamification and audio storytelling to drive foot traffic to local businesses and engage thousands of visitors without increasing staff workload. Learn the secret to scaling your destination's stories and saving thousands in print costs today.

Need a quick fix for low visitor engagement? Forget pricey print runs and months of planning. A digital discovery passport to savings is your solution. DMOs and BIAs can launch this fun, gamified rewards program in under an hour to instantly drive foot traffic to local businesses. Learn the simple 3-step action plan and see how groups like Bruce County achieved 18,000+ visits without extra staff. This is how you turn an engagement gap into an immediate, measurable win.

Ready to turn holiday shoppers into local explorers? Discover how digital rewards and a passport to savings can boost foot traffic and sales for your BIA or town centre. Instead of paper cards, a mobile-based system encourages people to visit multiple businesses by gamifying the experience. This low-friction, high-fun approach drives measurable engagement, as seen in examples like Downtown Brampton's 3,000+ check-ins. Focus on mapping out the fun, and using a simple reward st

The winter season is a prime opportunity to launch a self-guided driving tour, turning scenic routes into high-engagement adventures. This how-to guide shows DMOs and tourism managers how to curate safety-conscious, interactive itineraries (like holiday light tours) using digital check-ins and gamified rewards. This strategy not only supports local businesses during the off-season but also provides invaluable visitor data on travel patterns.

It’s time to solve the budget panic caused by untrackable, old-school advertising. Stop draining funds on campaigns that don't prove their worth. The most effective solution for driving spending and engagement is a digital rewards campaign. By gamifying experiences—like a "Shop Local" scavenger hunt—you turn passive activity into measurable action. This strategy provides the hard data and verifiable ROI you need for stakeholders. Get started easily!

The holiday season is a massive opportunity for small towns and BIAs, but the pressure to drive foot traffic is real. The solution isn't a bigger budget—it's a smart, self guided walking tour that leverages your existing charm. We’ve collected 10 fresh, engaging ideas—from 'Elf Hunts' to 'Ugly Sweater Showcases'—to help you launch a rewarding, low-staffing campaign that gets people shopping local and exploring your main street this winter.

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.

As an event coordinator or festival planner, you pour your heart into creating unforgettable moments. You dream of every attendee feeling truly immersed, discovering new artists, and staying connected long after the last curtain call. But how do you extend that magic beyond the physical event space, especially when your audience is on the go and hungry for more? (It’s a real challenge, making an ephemeral event leave a lasting digital footprint!)

Looking for a new way to get visitors exploring this fall? Learn how a seasonal food trail and a smart coupon management app can drive foot traffic, boost local business, and create an immersive culinary experience. This guide will show you how to use digital coupons to turn a simple activity into a profitable community campaign.

Spooky season is a huge opportunity for local businesses, but how do you turn the festive spirit into tangible sales? Learn how a coupon management app can create a spooky-themed trail with digital rewards and coupons, driving foot traffic to local shops and providing valuable data to measure your campaign's success.

Don’t let visitor engagement end at your museum's doors! Learn how to use a museum tour app to create self-guided, outdoor experiences that connect your institution to the community. From seasonal scavenger hunts to historical walking tours, discover six creative ways to leverage the autumn season and keep visitors engaged with your stories long after they've left your exhibits. It's a simple, powerful way to extend your reach and show that the best stories are found right ou

It's a crisp autumn day, and visitors want to get out and explore, but a staffed event is too much work. Learn how an audio guide app can help you create a low-cost, high-impact self-guided cycling tour. This guide shows you how to capture stories with your phone, map your route, and promote the tour to make it an unforgettable seasonal adventure.

Looking to attract more visitors this Halloween? This guide shows how to boost tourism this spooky season by using a self-guided tour app. Get 20 creative ideas for spooky tours and scavenger hunts that engage both locals and visitors, while also supporting local businesses and generating valuable buzz.

Looking to create a spooky Halloween experience? This guide shows how a walking tour audio app is the perfect low-cost solution for a self-guided haunted tour. Learn how to transform your community's spooky folklore into an engaging, self-guided adventure that drives visitor engagement and provides valuable data.

It's a huge opportunity for local farms and businesses this fall, but how do you make it all feel like one cohesive event? Learn how an interactive tour guide app can connect farms, local shops, and visitors into a seamless, self-guided tour that boosts foot traffic and celebrates the best of the season.

The busy summer season is over, but fall is a huge opportunity to keep the momentum going. A local culture app helps you create engaging campaigns that inspire visitors to explore your entire town, supporting local businesses and extending their stay. Learn how to launch a themed tour with gamification and rewards to drive foot traffic and track your success.

Looking to attract more visitors this Halloween? This guide shows how to boost tourism this spooky season by using a self-guided tour app. Get 20 creative ideas for spooky tours and scavenger hunts that engage both locals and visitors, while also supporting local businesses and generating valuable buzz.

Fall is the perfect time for a heritage walk! Learn how a digital app for heritage sites can help you create a seasonal self-guided tour that drives visitor engagement and supports local businesses. This guide covers everything from mapping your route to adding scavenger hunt elements and using a mobile tour platform to bring history to life.