Functional role and importance of PR-technologies in marketing activities of tourist companies

Abstract

The article is devoted to the definition of the functional role and importance of PR technologies in the marketing activities of tourist companies. It is revealed that in the tourism industry PR acts as an important component of the marketing system of a tourist company, namely as a tool for marketing communications, along with advertising, personal sales, sales promotion. It is revealed that PR technologies in the tourism business are used to inform potential consumers, popularize tourist services, to position and improve the image of tourist companies and destinations. Distinctive features of public relations in the tourism industry are the wide reach of the target audience, the variety of applied forms, long-term focus. Selected marketing tools used to solve PR problems in the tourism business are: work with the media (newsletter mailing, press conferences, interviews, briefings, information tours for journalists, media monitoring), special events for the presentation of tourist company, its products and services (exhibitions, fairs, seminars); company image advertising; sponsoring various events; charity; trainings, training courses for tourist companies. It is noted that participation in specialized exhibitions and fairs deserves the greatest attention among PR activities in order to present the tourist company and its services, establishing and maintaining business contacts and are one of the important PR-methods of promotion of tourist product in the market of tourist services. Authors provide the description of the leading international tourist exhibitions as well as tourist exhibitions held in Ukraine. The advantages and disadvantages of participation of Ukrainian tourist companies in specialized exhibitions and fairs are reviewed. It is noted that the impact of exhibition activity in the tourism industry has increased due to its mass character, significant number of contacts, various professional activities. It is proposed that all communication means used at the exhibitions by individual tourist companies should be selected in such a way so as to fully reflect its competitive advantages. When assessing the effectiveness of PR technologies in the tourism industry it is necessary to consider them in the context of a particular tourist company, taking into account its target audience and applied PR tools.