Destination Tourism Strategy

Tourism strategies for emerging and regional destinations.

We work with destinations, DMOs and donor projects on destination strategies and assessments to surface core cultural, culinary, historical and natural strengths and stakeholder needs, as well as challenges and opportunities to sustainable and inclusive tourism development. Our advisory is grounded in market realities, aligning tourism product development and positioning that build on key destination assets with market research and leading travel trends — including sustainable tourism and adventure travel. Our approach and model helps destinations attract their target market visitors, find market access, share their unique destination story, and engage travelers deeply through immersive travel experiences in a way that benefits the local community.

Our destination strategies include comprehensive assessment and evaluation, market research and segmentation, product development, branding and positioning, promotional and digital assets, and communication with local stakeholders. We are most known for helping “little known” or emerging destinations, including regional areas, become more well known to travel consumers and travel trade in a way that reflects the destination's values, strengths and story.

Each destination strategy is unique because each place is unique.

You can learn more about our different destination tourism strategy projects below.



Featured Destination Strategy Projects

Tourism Strategy Development

City Tourism Strategy

Chisinau. Moldova

Advisory and input for the tourism development strategy for Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. Includes assessment of current tourism assets and how to leverage existing cultural, geographical and natural strengths for better positioning of city as a standalone destination. Funded by the USAID Edge Buy-In Moldova Competitiveness Transition Activity…

COVID Recovery Task Force

Covid-19 Recovery Task Force Facilitation

Remote, Worldwide

Served as facilitators and practitioner collaborators in the Travel Foundation COVID Recovery Task Force.  Moderated a 40+ member discussion channel composed of destinations, companies and NGO stakeholders on pandemic recovery and integration of sustainable tourism initiatives.

Destination Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan

Rapid Website Implementation / Remote DMO Build-Out

Central Asia (Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan)

Executed rapid website design and content marketing strategy. Process served as strategic tool to drive destination asset inventory, positioning, and tourism product ideation. Informed destination identity and DMO build-out. Funded by GIZ.

Ecotourism Methodology Assessment

Ecotourism Product Development Methodology

Mediterranean (Europe, M. East, N. Africa)

Assessment and documentation of DestiMED methodology for the MEET Network of Mediterranean protected areas. Created case studies and consolidated development, impact measurement and marketing process for viable ecotourism products.

Alay Regional Tourism Evaluation and Positioning

Regional Tourism Evaluation

Alay Region, Kyrgyzstan

Product evaluation and hands-on consultation to local community-based service providers in the Alay Region to improve delivery and promotion of existing and new trekking, adventure and cultural travel experiences. Funded by Helvetas.

Naryn Regional Tourism Development

Regional Destination Assessment

Naryn, Kyrgyzstan

Assessment of local cultural, historical and natural assets for tourism potential to develop a destination and marketing strategy. Capacity building with Naryn Community-Based Tourism (CBT) organization and local stakeholders on tourism product development of cultural, culinary and adventure experiences. Funded by USAID.

Osh, Kyrgyzstan Destination Strategy

Silk Road Destination Development

Osh, Kyrgyzstan

Full destination assessment of local cultural, historical and culinary assets. Worked with Osh DMO and local stakeholders to develop a destination and marketing strategy. Results: new destination branding, development of cultural and culinary products and a strong online presence – all within one tourism season. Funded by USAID.

Tourism Product Development

Culinary / Cultural Destination Development

Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Performed destination assessment of local cultural, culinary and natural assets in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan. Worked with DMO and local stakeholders to develop destination and marketing strategy. Results: big shift in destination image, new cultural and culinary products and a strong online presence – all within one tourism season. Funded by USAID.

South Shore Issyk-Kul Destination Strategy

Regional Cultural Tourism Strategy

Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

Destination assessment of existing and potential tourism products, travel market segmentation and value chain in the South Shore region of Lake Issyk-Kul. Drafted a regional destination plan, marketing strategy, product development plan. Created website aligned with leading adventure and cultural travel trends. Funded by USAID Business Growth Initiative (BGI).


Other Services


Get in touch!

Tell us about the project you have in mind and how we might be able to help you achieve your goals. Then the magic begins.