I want to create an online platform to promote Italian unknown destinations
A sort of Atlas Obscura focused on Italy.
At the moment I've created a FB group to collect early users and to study the market: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1035194916878450.
During next months I want to open a blog with destinations articles and affiliate links to book a hotel there. At the same time I will open a YT channel where I'll publish videos about these places.
After that I want to create tours in these destinations and sell them on the website.
Feedbacks? Opinions? :D
Hey Lorenzo! I run a (formerly) profitable travel blog and am relatively embedded into the community of travel bloggers, so that's my context.
Are you sure (I see you're based in italy) that people won't be "mad" that you are exposing cool and secret places? I guess that's only an issue when you're successful, but it's kind of a "thing" in the blogging community not to over-expose really hidden secrets that locals would rather people didn't know about.
So my first thought is just, how will you ensure it's done in a sustainable and respectful manner :)
Pretty gutsy to start a travel business in these times, so wishing you luck!
Hi Monica,
that's a very good point!
Here my thoughts:
I'm not only promoting "secret" places but also quite famous destinations that most of tourists don't consider so much (like Turin, my city. That's quite big, we had Olympic Games and we have already tourists, but we can get more and more of them).
I don't want to make little and secret places over-crowded, so I won't promote them to mass tourists. I will target big spender tourists that have already been in Italian famous destinations (Venice, Rome, Florence, etc.) and want to see something less traveled.
I want to select places where locals are willing to welcome tourists from all the world. My dream is to educate them to see the tourist as a guest that brings you money rather than a rude that ruins your peace.
I hope to be clear, let me know what you think about :)
You asked for my opinion, here you have it:
I totally agree with @momoko about the sustainability aspect. There are already many places that got leaked through "Instagram travellers" and people just go there and destroy the whole nature.
I think its a nice idea if you can somehow garantuee the sustainability of your project but I'm still not quite sure what problem you're solving with this.
Cheers,
jorim