How to write the best travel and tourism blogs

Learn how to write a good travel blog and engage your target audience

What makes a good travel blog?

Words are powerful. They conjure up images, colours, sights, sounds and smells. Good travel and tourism blogs inspire and provoke, transporting the reader to another place. There are crucial elements to creating the best travel blog. Creating a basic framework allows the travel blogger to build robust content and shape it in a way that engages readers and inspires them to take action.

Fundamental blog components

Heading: Craft a title that clearly and informatively reveals the blog’s theme to help attract readers.

Opening: Introduce the destination or experience to establish the atmosphere of the blog post.

Description: Skyrocket the experience by adding a personal perspective through storytelling and unique insights to set the blog apart from travel guides.

Closing: Summarise the experience to capture the reader’s imagination and leave them wanting more.

Call to action: Inspire the reader to take action by inviting them to share the article on social media, leave comments on your blog or take more tangible action such as booking a tour or tickets to an attraction.

Targeting specific travel destinations

Location description: A destination overview gives the reader a sense of the people, local culture and environment.

Program: Include itinerary details—key places to visit, travel route and expected time frames—for future travel planning.

Points of interest: Highlight top-rated sights, special activities, landmarks and other attractions.

Travel basics: Accommodation, local transport, currency and safety tips help ensure travellers are well-equipped.

Imagery: Include compelling, high-quality photos and videos to help immerse the reader in the destination.

SEO principles

Search engine visibility requires important elements to be included—specific SEO keywords identified through research, well-written meta data and optimised content structured for search engine criteria. SEO for tourism is complex. A robust SEO strategy boosts your website’s visibility on search engines and increases visitors to your site.

Sustainability content strategy

Successful blogs often form part of an effective content strategy, where the importance of storytelling for your sustainability communications will help you attract the right readers.

What sort of targeting is beneficial for a travel blog?

Many of the best travel blogs focus on specific themes to attract their audience. A successful travel blogger uses a range of approaches to appeal to different readers.

Audience Profile

Determining the target audience for a travel blog using demographics such as age group, gender and earnings influences activity and location inclusions. For example, accommodation and culinary suggestions are different for high-end luxury travellers and backpackers.

Lifestyle Insights

Tap into reader attitudes and personal beliefs. For example, an eco-tourism focused blog will appeal to nature lovers while a blog about 10 things to do in Hong Kong is more likely to attract travellers wanting to explore the city.

Travel Preferences

Shape content that resonates with your audience by recognising different travel preferences such as exploring cities, relaxing beach getaways or adventure holidays.

Geographic Location

Target a country or region and draw the reader in with in-depth information and unique details about specific locations.

Journey Process

Use the five stages of the journey cycle—Dreaming, Planning, Booking, Experiencing and Sharing—as a guide to target content to the stage readers have reached in their travel plans.

6 of the best travel and tourism blogs

Here are some of the best Australian travel blogs written by our content team at Mankind Digital. They contain structured, detailed itineraries; diverse activities; practical tips; descriptions rich with cultural and historical context; and engaging conclusions that invite action. Each example includes an overview of the content and highlights that make the blog appeal to a specific type of traveller.

Example #1: 8 Eco-certified experiences around the Great Ocean Road

Overview:
This comprehensive guide to eco-tourism along the Great Ocean Road highlights the region’s natural wonders while emphasising the importance of connecting with nature and local heritage. The blog educates readers on the broader benefits of eco-tourism including positive impacts on local communities, economies, and indigenous culture. It provides practical tips for sustainable travel, empowering readers to make responsible choices.

Highlights:
A comprehensive overview of eight top eco-tourism experiences is accompanied by detailed descriptions, helping readers make informed decisions. The blog successfully combines engaging content, educational insights, practical advice and a compelling call to action—an invaluable resource for those seeking a responsible approach to travel while exploring the Great Ocean Road.

Example #2: Top 5 local Kangaroo Island secrets

Overview:
The engaging title and introduction immediately create curiosity, drawing readers to Kangaroo Island’s lesser-known wonders. The blog’s narrative is enriched with personal touches, sharing stories like the Kelly Hill Caves’ intriguing history and local practices such as the unique Kangaroo Island finger wave. The detailed destination overview and highlights effectively balance well-known attractions with undiscovered gems, taking readers beneath the surface of Kangaroo Island’s allure.

Highlights:
This blog stands out as an excellent guide. Compelling, high-quality images enhance the content so readers can visualise Kangaroo Island’s beauty. Its targeted geographic focus makes it an informative and engaging resource for those seeking a more authentic exploration of this unique destination.

Example #3: Explore the Mornington Peninsula with Wild Adventures Melbourne

Overview:
Wild Adventures Melbourne offers regenerative travel experiences on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula, an hour from Melbourne. Founder Nic Cooper goes beyond sustainability by emphasising a regenerative approach that ensures community engagement, and enhances customer experiences. He discusses how his guided adventure tours—including paddleboarding, mountain biking, and wildlife spotting—use eco-packs with locally sourced products, and collaborate with local organisations.

Highlights:
This interview with Nic reveals his passion for regenerative tourism. Visual storytelling through images enhances the blog’s appeal, and the conclusion invites readers to connect with Wild Adventures Melbourne. Targeting eco-conscious travellers, adventure seekers, and businesses, the blog successfully blends personal narratives, educational content, and actionable advice.

Example #4: Essential Kangaroo Island camping and caravan tips

Overview:
This blog offers a comprehensive overview of camping and caravanning in South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. Referencing diverse camping options, including privately owned parks, national and conservation parks, council campgrounds and free camping, it gives readers a thorough understanding of available choices. The blog’s insightful tips cover aspects such as pre-booking, refuelling, special offers and biosecurity measures for both first-time visitors and seasoned campers. Detailed descriptions with visual icons of amenities and attractions help readers make informed decisions.

Highlights:
This travel blog advocates responsible travel by emphasising adherence to local regulations and environmental protection. The ‘Top Tips’ section is a handy reference guide, while the engaging conclusion leaves readers excited about their Kangaroo Island adventure. Overall, this blog is an exceptional example of a well-rounded, informative, and responsibly oriented guide for camping enthusiasts.

Example #5: Calculate your carbon emissions

Overview:
This travel blog adeptly addresses growing concerns about the 8% of global carbon emissions generated by tourism, urging travellers to be conscious of their environmental impact. By presenting Sustainable Travel International’s Carbon Footprint Travel Calculator, it offers a tangible solution for calculating and offsetting emissions. The blog explores the critical relationship between tourism and climate change while providing clear solutions, detailed explanations and practical tips that empower readers to make immediate positive changes.

Highlights:
Including sustainable travel hacks and a breakdown of supported projects enhances the blog’s value while engaging visual aids, credibility through third-party audits and a strong call to action contribute to its effectiveness. With relevance, urgency, and a comprehensive approach, this blog stands out as an informative and actionable guide, making it an excellent resource for those seeking responsible and sustainable travel practices.

Example #6: Things to see and do between Melbourne and the 12 Apostles

Overview:
This travel blog expertly guides readers through a four-day action-packed Great Ocean Road adventure in structured day-by-day itineraries. The guide appeals to a broad range of interests by covering beach towns, coastal drives, volcanic plains, and historic sites. Practical tips and action-oriented information enhance the readers’ experience while simplifying accommodation and activity planning.

Highlights:
What sets this piece apart is its in-depth cultural and historical context for each location, such as the 1800s Noorat Stone Walls. The engaging conclusion is complemented by a call to action with ‘Great Ocean Road itineraries’, encouraging further exploration. This blog transcends a typical itinerary, offering a narrative that deeply connects travellers with its stunning location.

Use blogs to ignite imagination and inspire action

These examples of six of the best travel and tourism blogs contain essential framework elements and target readers based on demographics, geography, travel preferences and other variables. For more examples of the content we have developed, browse through our case studies.

If your tourism business or destination marketing organisation is ready to create impactful content to attract the visitors and readers you seek, Mankind Digital offers content marketing and SEO copywriting services tailored to suit your needs.

With experience in writing some of the best Australian travel blogs and numerous international awards, speak with us about using blog article development and SEO copywriting to enhance your website and content strategy.

Published April 3, 2024

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