Content
7 Smart Ways Travel Agents Generate Leads (and Stop Relying on Word-of-Mouth)
May 1, 2025
10 mins
Let’s be honest — the travel industry is fiercely competitive, and relying solely on word-of-mouth or returning clients just doesn’t cut it anymore. One month you're swamped with inquiries, the next it’s crickets. Sound familiar?
Maybe you’ve poured time into social media, but it's not translating into actual bookings. Or your email list exists… but no one’s clicking. The truth is, while people are traveling more than ever, they’re also overwhelmed with options. If your agency isn't actively generating high-quality leads, you're likely losing business to competitors who are.
The good news? There are proven, repeatable ways to attract and convert the right travelers — without burning out or spending blindly on ads. In this article, we’ll walk through 7 effective strategies real travel agents are using right now to bring in consistent leads, including how one bus operator automated ads for 50,000+ routes in just 3 hours.
Let’s dive in.
Your website is the digital front door of your travel agency — and it should be built not just to inform, but to convert. An optimized website creates a seamless experience for visitors, guiding them toward booking or inquiry actions with minimal friction.
Key optimizations include:
PPC for travel industry is one of the most effective tools for tourism agents to generate immediate, high-quality leads. By bidding on relevant keywords, agents can place their ads right where prospective travelers are searching—whether it’s for flights, tours, or bus routes. This precision targeting helps ensure your ads reach the right audience at the right moment, driving more qualified traffic to your site.
A great example of PPC’s power comes from the international bus carrier KLR, which operates over 50,000 route combinations across 16 European countries. Promodo helped KLR automate their PPC campaigns using an innovative tool called G-MOS. This allowed them to launch thousands of highly relevant ad groups within just 3 hours—each tailored to specific routes, prices, and languages. The result? A 461% increase in ticket sales and nearly half of all Google Ads sales coming from these automated campaigns. For travel agents, this paid ads case study demonstrates how PPC automation can massively scale lead generation without sacrificing ad quality or relevance.
By leveraging PPC campaigns strategically, travel agents can not only capture demand but also stay competitive in a crowded marketplace—turning clicks into bookings with efficiency and scale.
Phone calls hold specific importance in generating leads for travel agencies.
98%of travel businesses handle booking over the phone.
Live interpersonal communication covers various inquiries and detailed guidance that most travelers want to hear in person before booking their trips. With that, travel agents apply voice calls as an efficient means to provide their customers with all the needed information.
This is why incorporating web calling and web callbacks substantially enhances the influx of digital travel leads. Both options simplify the process for customers to connect with you:
✈️ Web calling enables customers to initiate a call directly through your website
✈️ Callback features allow your customers to schedule a call at their convenience.
Placing a click-to-call button and a callback option on all pages of your website is an effective way to generate more travel leads.
Content marketing is a powerful strategy for travel agents aiming to attract and engage potential clients. By creating and sharing valuable, relevant content, travel agents can establish authority, build trust, and guide prospects through the decision-making process.
For instance, a travel agency might develop blog posts highlighting unique travel destinations, share customer testimonials, or provide travel tips and guides. This approach not only enhances the agency's online presence but also addresses the specific interests and concerns of their target audience.
A notable example is the case study of Yesim, a telecommunications company offering eSIM solutions. By implementing a comprehensive content marketing strategy, Yesim achieved a 25% increase in sales from organic traffic. They focused on creating informative blog content tailored to their diverse, international audience, effectively boosting their visibility and customer engagement.
This case underscores the potential of content marketing in generating leads and driving sales, making it an essential component of a travel agent's marketing toolkit.
Social media isn’t just for pretty pictures — it’s one of the most powerful tools travel agents can use to drive real leads. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok allow you to inspire potential travelers, build trust, and stay top-of-mind throughout the customer journey.
But success doesn’t come from posting random destination photos. The key is strategy: share client testimonials, behind-the-scenes content, limited-time deals, and educational posts (like “5 Things to Know Before Visiting Greece”). Use stories and reels to create urgency or showcase unique experiences only you can offer.
Don't forget: social media is a two-way street. Respond to comments and DMs quickly, and use polls, Q&As, and giveaways to boost engagement and grow your audience. Pair this with lead magnets — like free travel checklists or itinerary guides — and you’ve got a recipe for capturing emails and starting conversations that lead to bookings.
Live chatting has proven as an exceptionally cost-effective way to boost lead generation across the travel industry.
Live chats serve as a valuable means of initiating customer conversations. Through properly placed pop-ups and gentle nudges, you prompt potential leads to engage with you by responding to their immediate travel inquiries on all stages of their customer journey.
With live chat available, your potential customers may inquire about a real-time interaction or prompt answers from one of your travel experts.
A notable feature of readily available live chats is their seamless integration with phone systems. Through such integration, you’ll achieve a seamless user experience (UX).
Despite its seemingly old-school reputation, email marketing remains a highly valuable strategy in the digital landscape. It serves as an excellent way to place content directly in front of your audience, with the added benefit of being an effective call to action.
For instance, a monthly email newsletter showcasing your latest holiday deals can include compelling icons like 'Book and Save Now' or 'Get a Quote Now' at the end, directing customers to an online booking form or a dedicated page on your website where they can engage with your booking team. This simple yet strategic use of email marketing significantly contributes to generating digital travel leads for your travel business.
Pursuing email marketing, it's crucial to cultivate and expand your client email database. The most effective approach involves offering a lead magnet—a reward customers receive in exchange for providing their emails. This could take the form of a/an:
✈️ Downloadable travel brochure
✈️ Access to destination videos
✈️ A monthly newsletter with vacation package options.
Harnessing the power of your customer base is among the best ways to amplify your digital travel leads.
Online referral programs help to expand your customer base with minimal effort. The strategy is particularly impactful for premium or luxury services like holidays, where individuals are more inclined to choose a travel agent advised by a friend or family member.
Consider extending benefits to both the referrer and the referred customer by offering them discounts when the referred customer makes an online booking.
While the idea of offering discounts may seem daunting, a well-executed online referral program will help you save on your budget, while more qualified leads will compensate for the marketing costs. And the more appealing your referral incentives, the greater the influx of travel leads you're likely to attract.
If you are still asking how to get clients for travel agency, get in touch with our niche experts to help you through your digital marketing journey.
Content Marketing Manager at Promodo
Taras has 16 years of hands-on copywriting experience overseas with 3000+ unique copies.
Accredited with Certificate of Proficiency in English (C2 level) by Cambridge University. Studied at Writing Launch Academy (United States) and owns an Academic Writing Certificate from Oregon University. Author of 12 dictionaries with Apriori Publishers.
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