The pandemic has been a tough time for the tourism industry. With any luck, though, soon it will bounce right back to normal. Wayfinding, of course, is crucial to a seamless navigation experience, and so you can imagine how important it is for people visiting an entirely new environment for the first time. This is why it’s such an important thing to think about as tourism is revitalised. So, let’s explore how wayfinding helps support the tourist experience and what makes it function efficiently.
First of all, tourism tends to convene around specific areas, which means it’s best to focus emphasis around there. Wayfinding for tourists has different requirements and goals to that of the locals, so it is a waste of resources to spread it beyond where it’s required. This means that city centres and other hotspots need to be signposted consistently between each other with the intent of guiding first-time visitors. It also means being conscious of prominent landmarks and using them to aid the wayfinding experience.
Tourist wayfinding requires a strategy that can accurately signpost both day and night economies, but without one intruding on the other. Tourists who engage with either of these will have different priorities and goals, so it’s important to serve both. Understanding where different economies are concentrated and signposting points of interest can serve this goal, as can highlighting transport services that operate throughout different hours.
An important thing to think about when designing wayfinding for tourism is considering the needs of non-english speakers. Visual design is integral to conveying meaning quickly and efficiently. In the case of tourism, it’s even more important since it’s able to transcend language and cultural barriers. It is important to research, however, whether the visual shorthand is only understood culturally or whether it will be recognised worldwide. If this hurdle can be overcome, it’s they key to the success of the wayfinding strategy.
Not everything can be summed up through an image though, and there are many situations where text must be used as well. In these cases, using simple, common words will help lower the barrier of entry. It’s not a matter of words or pictures though, and both in conjunction is the real key. In cases where a reader might not immediately understand what’s written, the accompanying visual design can offer context. The combination of the two is what creates a clear and purposeful wayfinding strategy for a range of people from all kinds of walks-of-life.
It’s clear that in a digital age using technology can help wayfinding strategies become more personalised and seamless than ever before. The first thing to keep in mind, however, is that not everyone is willing or capable of making use of the digital component of a strategy. This doesn’t mean they won’t benefit from it however – as providing information and a customised itinerary before arrival can help alleviate crowds, lowering journey times and allowing for a more relaxed experience.
A customisable itinerary allows its users to familiarise themselves with their journeys before they set off. This prevents them from getting lost, and provides them with information about events or tourist opportunities they might have otherwise been unaware of. It can also cater directly to their first language, offering crucial information in an easily-digestible format.
The benefits of imparting this information through a digital medium is that live updates can be delivered and the itinerary can be directly and more widely customisable. This easily-tailored experience offers a more seamless wayfinding experience than ever before, and can also circumvent the dangers of the pandemic through the planning a digital service can offer in advance.
Tourists always benefit from being able to find their way around, but you may not have been aware of how important wayfinding is the achieving this end. If you need a wayfinding strategy designed with an emphasis of easing the tourist experience, we’d be glad to help.