Digital marketing
for tourism

What motivated you to enrol for this course?

I enrolled for the Certified Digital Marketing Associate course to gain new industry skills, techniques, insight and increase knowledge that will help me work better towards achieving MTA’s goals and objectives. I am a firm believer in continuous learning which is vital since it nourishes the mind as well as helps to discover new ways and methods of how to work in an efficient and effective manner.

As a Marketing Manager, my role is to promote Malta overseas, with the goal of increasing tourism to the Maltese Islands. I am in constant contact with MTA’s overseas office representatives and foreign PR agents where we create content related to Malta and Gozo to be shared with international bloggers, vloggers and journalists. We create interest about Malta overseas by sharing stories, events, photography and, videos about the Maltese islands. I also handle invitations to journalists, bloggers, vloggers and inviting them to Malta & Gozo where they can experience the various facets of the islands, such as history & culture, diving, trekking, abseiling, cycling and gastronomy amongst other experiences that a tourist would like to discover when in Malta & Gozo. Organizing custom events for our international guests is extremely rewarding especially when they give our islands rave reviews and share their 5 star experience with their followers.

Why have digital marketing skills become crucial for the tourism industry?

Digital marketing has become an indispensable part of every business. It has affected the way how DMOs are promoting their product to the existing customers and how to reach potential customers. A quality website, a strong social media presence, search engine optimisation, email, the creation of attractive content, and the implementation of effective digital marketing campaigns are crucial for the ongoing success of the tourism industry in Malta.

These are challenging times indeed, and when budgets decrease due to the circumstances that the whole world is facing, we need to ensure that brand Malta is still being positioned abroad and that we are creating a strong presence for travellers to choose when it’s safe to travel again. We need to keep generating interest and reaching out to people of different ages and different cultures and for this digital marketing is key.

Digital marketing can help businesses within the tourism and hospitality sectors to promote their products and services effectively and keep engaged with their audience while spending a dedicated budget that can be monitored, analysed, and understood.

What was your favourite part of your study experience?

The fact that I had the freedom and flexibility to map out a study plan based on my availability was wonderful. Furthermore, I was well supported by the ICE Malta team – they made learning an enjoyable experience.

How can everyone use digital marketing tools to position Malta as a must-visit destination?

Sharing photography of attractions, villages, cities, stories and, moments that one has experienced in Malta to convey the message of how incredible destination Malta would be a valuable start. Through the use of digital marketing platforms, our Malta brand will continue to evolve and will be able to reach and engage with a number of potential travellers internationally, to showcase our beautiful islands, with the aim to increase more tourism to the Maltese islands.