How to Build a Walking Tour That Boosts Local Business Foot Traffic

Want more visitors exploring your main street—not just Googling it from the hotel? Whether you're part of a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), a Business Improvement Area (BIA), a local museum, or a tourism office, a well-crafted walking tour can do more than guide people around. It can turn passive wanderers into active customers.

Here's how to create a map-based experience that doesn't just show people around but leads them right to your community's heartbeat: its businesses.

Why Digital Walking Tours Still Drive Foot Traffic

Walking tours are simple, cost-effective, and incredibly effective tools for visitor engagement. For small tourism teams, they're a scalable, accessible way to connect stories to streets.

They're eco-friendly, mobile-friendly, and the perfect antidote to short attention spans. Plus, when paired with a digital tourism platform or walking tour app, they become even more powerful. You can add audio, visuals, interactive elements, and yes even local discounts.

No time or budget? You’re not alone. The good news is that a walking tour doesn't have to be a big lift. With tools like Driftscape, you can set up a self-guided digital tour in an afternoon. Then share it using printable QR code posters placed in shop windows, visitor centres, or cafés. Ask your participating businesses to get on board and help spread the word.

Key Takeaway: Digital self-guided tours offer visitors a more intimate, immersive way to get to know your town or district while providing valuable analytics on popular stops.

Step-by-Step: Designing a Business-Boosting Walking Tour

Picture this: the crunch of gravel underfoot, the aroma of fresh-baked pastries drifting out from a corner bakery, and the soft chime of a storefront bell as someone steps in to explore. A walking tour should awaken the senses and not just check off landmarks.

1. Choose Your Theme or Storyline

What makes your area special? Whether it's "Hidden Histories of the East End," "Local Legends & Landmarks," or "Sips & Shops Tour," your theme sets the tone and helps you choose relevant stops. Let the story shape the route, not just the geography.

2. Involve Local Businesses from the Start

This is where the magic happens and you directly increase the impact on foot traffic. Invite shop owners, cafés, and galleries to be part of the tour. They can:

• Offer tour-only discounts or freebies.

• Share a quick story or fun fact about their space.

• Host a stop for 2–3 minutes of history or flavour.

When businesses feel included, they help promote the tour too; this creates instant co-marketing momentum. You are essentially building a free co-marketing campaign that drives customers to their door.

3. Map It Out Digitally (and Accessibly)

Use a walking tour app like Driftscape to bring it all together. Digitally mapping your tour offers major benefits:

• It helps people navigate with ease using a map-based interface.

• It lets you add rich content (photos, audio clips, short stories).

• It allows real-time updates and seasonal adjustments.

• It makes the experience more accessible to all ages and abilities.

4. Promote It as an Experience, Not Just a Path

You're not just connecting dots on a map—you're creating an experience. Use in-store signage, local posters, email newsletters, and social media to invite people to "Walk the Story" of your community.

Pro Tip: Bundle it. Pair tours with events, contests, or seasonal promos ("Summer Style Walk," anyone?). If someone ends the tour with a latte, a locally made candle, and a selfie in front of a mural? That’s basically the tourism trifecta. For more inspiration, check out successful tourism strategies on the Destination Canada website.

Walking Tour Theme Ideas That Connect Businesses

Need a little creative nudge?

Here are some walking tour themes that naturally connect visitors with local businesses while making the experience fun and meaningful:

Theme	Business Focus	Visitor Outcome
Sips & Shops	Boutiques, Cafés, Specialty Food Shops	Local shopping + tasting trail
Historic Storefronts Tour	Long-standing Businesses, Architectural Gems	History and retail discovery
Mural & Market Walk	Artisan Markets, Indie Retailers, Galleries	Art appreciation and purchasing
Flavours of the District	Restaurants, Bakeries, Gourmet Grocers	Curated culinary tasting loop
Trail to Table	Outdoor Recreation Spots + Restaurants	Active day combined with a rewarding meal

Final Thoughts: Small Steps, Big Foot Traffic

A walking tour doesn’t need a big budget—just a great story and the right partners. When done well, it boosts visitor engagement, increases foot traffic to local businesses, and helps visitors feel more connected to the people and places behind the storefronts. Start with a story. Bring in your neighbours.

Frequently Asked Questions About Creating a Digital Walking Tour

Q: How long should a business-focused walking tour be?

A: The ideal length for a self-guided walking tour is between 45 to 90 minutes of walking time. This keeps visitors engaged without causing fatigue. Focus on 5–10 quality stops where they are encouraged to pause, explore, and ideally, step inside a local shop or cafe.

Q: What is the best way to promote the walking tour to drive foot traffic?

A: Focus on promotion at the point of decision and purchase. Use QR codes on print materials inside hotels, visitor centers, and especially in the windows of participating businesses. A bolded, mobile-friendly call-to-action on your DMO or BIA website should direct users straight to the app or mobile-optimized landing page.

Q: Can I include local business discounts in a digital walking tour?

A: Absolutely. Adding a "tour-only" discount or a small freebie (like a coffee coupon) is a powerful incentive. This can be integrated into the digital stop information, encouraging visitors to complete the tour and rewarding them for their exploration with a reason to spend locally.

Q: How does a digital tour help track visitor engagement and success?

A: A digital platform provides valuable analytics. You can track how many people downloaded the tour, which stops were most popular, and how long users spent at each location. This data helps you demonstrate the economic impact and fine-tune future tour experiences for maximum local business benefit.

Q; What if I don't have time for a large-scale walking tour right now?

A: Start small for a quick win. Begin with 5–7 key locations and use content you already have, making use of existing photos, brief historical tidbits, short quotes from business owners. Launch it with a small weekend social media campaign to gather initial feedback before expanding the route.

Ready to get going?

Book a demo now and get started!