As the first day of summer approaches, it’s time to gear up for the busy travel season. With families planning vacations and travelers eager to explore, there’s no better time to create summer-themed digital passports for your destination.
What is a Digital Passport?
Digital passports are an integral part of destination marketing, promoting attractions and driving visitor engagement through gamified check-ins. Visitors follow a curated trail, check in at each attraction, and earn incentives like digital badges and prizes. With leaderboards, social shares, and redeemable rewards, passports are inherently viral and reach both local and broad audiences.
Why Launch Digital Passports for Your Destination?
Summer travel surges — nearly 85% of Americans plan to travel, with 42% planning to travel more than the prior year. Digital passports tap into this boom: they promote local businesses, drive traffic to attractions, increase engagement through gamified check-ins, and collect first-party data like visitor preferences and email addresses for future campaigns.
Top Digital Passports to Launch This Summer
1. Eco Explorer Passport: Highlight eco-friendly attractions — parks, nature reserves, sustainable businesses. Encourage Leave No Trace principles with selfie check-ins.
2. Paws & Play Passport: A trail of dog-friendly parks, cafes, and attractions for pet-loving travelers. See also: 4 Strategies to Attract Pet Lovers to Your Destination.
3. Summer Bucket List Challenge: Must-see attractions and activities — sunrises, hikes, kayaking, farmers’ markets, outdoor yoga. The Utah Valley Summer Bucket List Challenge is the benchmark: 3,000+ photos from 2,290 participants, showing how a well-run bucket list drives destination-wide engagement all season long.
4. Sweet Treats Trail: Local ice cream shops, candy stores, and bakeries — perfect for families and summer sweet tooths.
5. The Great Outdoors Challenge: Gardens, hiking paths, and green spaces for all levels — families with young children to seasoned hikers.
6. Teen Adventure Trail: Boba tea, escape rooms, go-karts, indoor rock climbing — keeping teens engaged all summer.
7. Fun in the Sun Family Trail: Art installations, bubble stations, picnic spots, BBQ areas, and family fun runs for lasting summer memories.
8. Public Art Walk: Self-guided trail of sculptures, murals, and creative displays with photo check-ins celebrating community spirit.
9. Local Brew Trail: Craft breweries, tasting sessions, and beer pairing dinners. See the Utah Ale Trail for inspiration. The same gamified check-in playbook also powers a citywide Restaurant Week pass.
10. Festival Check-in Challenge: Stages, food vendors, interactive exhibits — encourage full festival exploration with photo check-ins for UGC.
11. Creative Corner Challenge: Candle making, pottery painting, art classes — hands-on experiences for creative travelers.
12. Romance Bucket List: Sunset spots, intimate dining, scenic views, kayaking tours, and stargazing for couples.
Get Started with Digital Passports
Ready to make this summer unforgettable? Launch your own digital passport and drive engagement to new heights.