How to Design a Winter Walking Tour That Locals Actually Use
- Andrew Applebaum
- Dec 25, 2025
- 4 min read
It is a Tuesday in January, the wind is howling, and your downtown core looks like a ghost town. You have worked hard to build a vibrant community, but when the temperature drops, it feels like everyone retreats to their living rooms. It is a common frustration for BIA managers and tourism directors (I have been there myself), but winter does not have to be a dead zone for foot traffic.
The challenge is that people need a better reason to go outside than just "fresh air." They need a mission. By leveraging a walking tour app, you can transform those quiet streets into an interactive playground that rewards people for braving the cold and supporting cultural tourism in their own backyard.
Why a digital tourism platform is your best winter tool
A digital walking tour gives visitors a self-paced, curated reason to explore your town during the off-season. Unlike paper maps that get soggy in the snow, a mobile experience allows you to update routes in real-time, highlight warm-up stations, and offer digital incentives that drive people directly into local shops.
In my experience, the most successful winter tours aren't just about the scenery; they are about the "win." For example, the town of Sussex used the Driftscape platform for their Sussex Lights Up holiday tour to turn a simple stroll into a high-stakes scavenger hunt. By adding that layer of play, they saw over 3,500 participants in just 30 days. People will bundle up if you make it a game—especially if there is a prize at the end.
Designing your walking tour app for maximum engagement
Creating a tour that sticks requires a mix of safety, comfort, and fun. You want to move people from their couches to the sidewalk by offering something they can't get scrolling on their phones.
Identify "Warm-Up" POIs: Use your points of interest to highlight cafes or galleries where people can duck in to thaw their toes and shop local.
Keep the Stops Tight: In the summer, people linger. In winter, they want the highlights. Aim for 5 to 7 high-impact stops within a short walking radius.
Gamify the Route: Use digital check-ins or scavenger hunt questions at each location to keep the momentum going.
Incentivize Completion: Partner with local businesses to offer a digital coupon or a small reward for finishing the trail.
Winter Tour Engagement Comparison
Feature | Standard Summer Tour | Winter-Optimized Tour |
Stop Duration | 10+ minutes | 3–5 minutes |
Primary Draw | History & Architecture | Holiday Lights & Gamification |
Business Tie-in | General Browsing | Warm-up Stations & Cocoa Rewards |
Tech Focus | High Video Usage | Audio-heavy (Keep hands in pockets!) |
Pro Tip: Use audio narration instead of long text blocks for winter tours. This creates a hands-free immersive travel experience, allowing visitors to keep their gloves on while hearing your town's stories.
How digital rewards drive winter foot traffic
Digital rewards act as a "carrot" that moves people from the sidewalk into the store. When a visitor reaches a certain stop on your walking tour app, a notification can trigger a reward—perhaps a discount at the local bakery or an entry into a town-wide contest.
Take a look at the success in North Perth during their Paddyfest celebration. They ran a month-long prize-based tour involving over 80 local businesses. By creating a digital trail with clear incentives, they turned a seasonal event into a massive economic engine. It is a lot easier to justify a walk in the snow when there is a free treat or a big prize waiting for you at the finish line!
If you're looking for more inspiration on regional growth, Destination Canada has some great resources on seasonal dispersal and rural tourism development. You can also check out more of our success stories and case studies.
Common Questions About Winter Walking Tours
Q: What is the best way to create a self-guided tour app for a small town?
A: The most effective way is to use a platform like Driftscape that allows for easy POI creation and gamification. Focus on a specific theme (like local history or a holiday light trail) and ensure you include "check-in" features to track engagement.
Q: How do I keep people engaged on a tour when it is cold out?
A: Keep your stops close together and use audio storytelling. When people can listen to a story while walking, they stay moving and stay warm. Also, integrating a scavenger hunt with a tangible reward at the end is a proven way to boost completion rates.
Q: Can a walking tour app work without a strong data signal?
A: Yes, but you need to choose a platform that offers offline maps. This is crucial for winter tours in rural areas or parks where signal can be spotty.
A winter tour isn't just a "nice-to-have" feature; it's a vital tool for supporting your local businesses during their slowest months.
Building a great winter walking tour app experience doesn't have to be a mountain of work.
If you focus on a fun theme and involve your local shops, the community will show up. I've seen it work in towns of all sizes, and I'd love to see it work for yours.
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