Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Tourism Coordinator
💰 $45,000 - $65,000
🎯 Role Definition
Are you passionate about travel, culture, and creating unforgettable experiences? This role requires a dynamic and highly organized Tourism Coordinator to be the driving force behind our destination's promotional efforts. In this pivotal role, you will be the main point of contact for visitors, travel professionals, and local partners. You will develop engaging marketing content, plan exciting events, and build the strong relationships necessary to showcase our location as a premier travel destination. The ideal candidate is a creative storyteller, a meticulous planner, and a natural connector, ready to contribute to the vibrant growth of our local tourism industry.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Tour Guide
- Hotel Front Desk Agent / Concierge
- Travel Agent / Consultant
- Marketing Assistant or Intern
Advancement To:
- Tourism Manager or Director
- Destination Marketing Manager
- Director of Visitor Experience
- Events Director
Lateral Moves:
- Event Coordinator
- Marketing Specialist
- Public Relations Coordinator
- Corporate Travel Coordinator
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Develop and execute innovative marketing campaigns across digital and traditional channels to promote the destination to various target audiences, including leisure travelers, business groups, and travel trade professionals.
- Manage and create engaging, brand-aligned content for all social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.), websites, and email marketing newsletters to increase online presence and visitor engagement.
- Act as the primary, enthusiastic point of contact for all visitor inquiries, providing comprehensive and inspiring information about local attractions, accommodations, dining, and events via phone, email, and in-person interactions.
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with local tourism stakeholders, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, retail businesses, and government agencies to foster a unified destination message.
- Plan, coordinate, and execute the complete logistics for familiarization (FAM) tours and site inspections for travel agents, tour operators, and media representatives to showcase the destination's unique offerings.
- Conceptualize, plan, and manage a diverse calendar of tourism-focused events, festivals, and community programs designed to attract visitors and enhance the local experience.
- Represent the organization professionally at local, regional, and national travel trade shows, conferences, and networking events to generate leads and promote the destination.
- Oversee the entire lifecycle of promotional materials, from content creation and design to the production and distribution of visitor guides, brochures, maps, and digital assets.
- Conduct ongoing market research and analysis to identify emerging travel trends, visitor demographics, and competitor activities to inform and refine tourism strategy.
- Coordinate group tour logistics from inquiry to departure, including custom itinerary planning, booking accommodations and activities, and ensuring a seamless, high-quality experience for group leaders.
- Gather, analyze, and report on key tourism metrics, such as visitor numbers, hotel occupancy rates, website traffic, and campaign ROI, to measure effectiveness and guide future decisions.
- Support the sales team by preparing customized proposals, compelling presentations, and professional bid documents for conferences, meetings, and sporting events.
- Maintain and meticulously update a comprehensive database (CRM) of tourism-related businesses, industry contacts, media lists, and local assets.
- Collaborate with public relations efforts to pitch compelling story ideas, host travel writers, and assist in securing positive media coverage for the destination.
Secondary Functions
- Manage the inventory and fulfillment of visitor information requests received through all channels, ensuring timely and professional delivery.
- Coordinate logistics for marketing-related photo and video shoots, including location scouting, scheduling, and on-site assistance.
- Respond to public reviews and feedback on major travel websites (e.g., TripAdvisor, Google, Yelp) to actively manage the destination's online reputation.
- Assist in grant writing and seeking alternative funding opportunities to support new and existing tourism initiatives and community projects.
- Manage and develop volunteer programs for visitor centers or special events, including recruitment, training, scheduling, and recognition.
- Liaise with local and regional transportation providers to ensure visitor-facing information on travel options is accurate and accessible.
- Process and manage direct bookings for tours and attractions where applicable, utilizing reservation software and systems effectively.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- MS Office Suite Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for creating reports, presentations, and managing communications.
- Social Media Management: Proven experience managing professional social media accounts and using scheduling platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social).
- Content Management Systems (CMS): Familiarity with updating and managing website content using systems like WordPress or similar platforms.
- CRM Software: Experience using Customer Relationship Management software (e.g., Simpleview, Salesforce) to manage stakeholder and client data.
- Email Marketing Platforms: Competency in using tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact to create and track email campaigns.
- Basic Graphic Design: Ability to use tools like Canva or Adobe Express for creating social media graphics and simple marketing materials.
- Budget Management: Experience in tracking expenses, processing invoices, and assisting in the management of project or department budgets.
Soft Skills
- Exceptional Communication: Superior verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences from visitors to executive partners.
- Superior Organization: Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Customer Service Excellence: A genuine passion for helping people and providing a positive, welcoming, and memorable customer experience.
- Creative Problem-Solving: The ability to think on your feet, anticipate challenges, and develop proactive and effective solutions.
- Collaborative Team Player: A proven track record of working effectively and positively with internal teams, external partners, and community volunteers.
- Public Speaking & Presentation: Confidence in presenting information clearly and engagingly to both small and large groups.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- Associate's Degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.
Preferred Education:
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Marketing or Communications
- Business Administration
- Event Management
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
- 2-4 years of professional experience in tourism, hospitality, marketing, or a closely related field.
Preferred:
- Direct experience working for a destination marketing organization (DMO), convention and visitors bureau (CVB), chamber of commerce, hotel, or tour operator. A demonstrated history of successful event planning and digital marketing is highly desirable.