Islands Jamaica Aruba Evaluate How Effective You

¶ … Islands Jamaica Aruba

Evaluate how effective you feel these web sites are in promoting the destination. Explain your answer

The Jamaica website is well done, and is static. The entire information is crammed in the landing page. The 'where to visit' page is also static and insipid. It does not provide a traveler with the lingering curiosity to visit. A travel site must be more visual and dynamic. The site could do with some bigger pictures and some small videos of the attractions displayed. The text matter is also poorly done. It does not inspire. The pages though done with care are more like brochures online. The photographs are of poor quality and do not sustain reader interest. On the other hand the Aruba website on entry indicates fun and adventure.

Though simple it is beckoning because it has continuous activity and displays. There are dynamic links with very clear menus and even a chat page. The graphics is of high quality and makes the visitor want to explore the site. The site leads the visitor to other users of the site and travelers and their opinions. The site has included a multimedia gallery that takes one to the offerings that is available at Aruba visually and the site is very user friendly. The site has high quality photographs, videos and interaction tools, making it an attractive site that is persuasive about considering Aruba as a destination. Thus both the sites are poles apart.

2. How would you use the information on these sites to develop a market plan?

For Jamaica the marketing plan would involve revamping the website to make it more attractive by adding footage of the cultural activities of Jamaica, posting bits of its history and film. Tourist attractions can be highlighted and less text and more quality video is the necessity. There must be also a section on hotels, airports and advertisement for these. By encouraging private operator participation especially the hospitality industry in Jamaica and in other places the promotion can be done on site and also by schemes that direct the traffic to the site by using promotion in advertisement media, google, facebook and other promotional sections. For the Aruba section there is not much to be done on the site, but promote the site per se. For that the use of other media, like TV, newspapers and journals can be approached to print articles and footages with links to the site shown. One minute commercials in potential countries can be helpful. The site must have a different language section for each of the proposed countries from where the guests are expected.

3. Develop a consumer advertisement for a special at an all inclusive resort located on each of the islands. You can choose which inclusive resort from each island you would like to use to write your advertisement

For Jamaica: The most attractive one in Jamaica is Falmouth: "See time stand still. Live with your ancestors the Jamaica way. Go back in time to 1790. Experience the way the ancients lived at the town of Falmouth. Come see the sugar bowl in the Georgian style of architecture. Live the lordly life in the Georgian buildings in the Caribbean. This tour is brought to you by the Royal Caribbean Cruise and the Port Authority of Jamaica. It will be opened in 2011. Be the first to step into history!"

For Aruba: At Aruba the deep-sea fishing and bottom fishing on a sports yacht along with the De Palm Island where the unique Sea Trek with an under water view can be used. This is attractive to a wide segment of travelers who like the sea, fishing and underwater adventure. It is of importance to Snorkel -- There is a special snorkel item termed SNUBA, an underwater breathing system that combines snorkeling and scuba. This is the best segment to advertise on a general basis.

4. Find a specific event that occurs on one of the islands and create an advertisement promoting this event.

Jamaica: Rebel Salute is the event that Jamaica seeks to promote. It is an annual festival will that honours reggae geniuses. It is where the local cuisine comes forth and it can be the centre of attraction but the website has almost ignored it. Thus it can be advertised with more of its history.

Aruba: is touted as a wedding place. Hence it can be advertised better. Getting ready to wed? Marry and fall in love with her and the tropical paradise. Aruba offers the Arabian dream marriage! Try the Aruban romance! Renew your love if you are married. Fall in love again!

5. How important is tourism to each of these islands? What are the benefits of tourism to these islands?

Tourism is not the main and only sustenance in Jamaica, but as of now the majority of the population is employed in one or another tourist activity. The country was the host to 1.3 million visitors, with an income of $1.33 billion but the country also has exports of sugar and minerals and other mining activities. Thus manufacturing is also an equal activity and though Jamaica is interested in tourism it is not the main economic activity. (Jamaicaguide.com, 2012) Tourism is the major activity of Aruba. The next is offshore banking. There are 1.5 million tourist visits per year and it is the main revenue model for the economy. Aruba is absolutely dependent on tourism. (Indexmundi.com, 2012)

6. Do you feel these islands are targeting a specific market or segment? Explain your answer.

The sites generally try to attract many segments. The Jamaica site tries to attract tourists for adventure tourism, golf and cultural tourists. Its unique market is history but has played down the key role of the preserved city of Falmouth and it is only mentioned. Likewise the Aruba site is trying to woo all visitors of all kinds by offering many different attractions to children, adventure tourism, marriage and sight seeing and history. Though the theme ought to have been built on the sea and the beaches and the tropics the site tries to interest all possible global audience. This can be avoided and mainly adventure tourism and the unique 'marry at Aruba' theme can be concentrated upon.