Creating a Great Traveller’s Pledge

A well‑crafted traveller’s pledge is one of the simplest ways to turn visitors into stewards of your destination. When framed clearly and promoted consistently, a pledge can shift behaviour, generate positive word‑of‑mouth, and strengthen community trust—all while giving partners new touch‑points to engage visitors. Tourismo provides the tools you need to plan, launch, and track every pledge‑driven action.

Pledge Formats

Tourismo supports a variety of pledge experiences, each suited to different goals:

• Digital Click‑to‑Pledge: Visitors tick a box or sign their name online (ideal for websites and mobile apps).

• Print Card or Poster Pledge: A short promise displayed in hotels, visitor centres, or airports for guests to sign.

• Mandatory Immigration Pledge: Built directly into arrival processes—see the Palau Pledge passport stamp.

• Social Share Pledge: Travellers repost a branded graphic or badge to their own channels.

• On‑Site Sign Pledge: Guests sign a board or mural at key attractions—a popular photo‑op.

Reinforcement & Reward Options

Any pledge can be paired with one or more of the following:

• Digital Badge: Auto‑issued in Tourismo; unlocks after signing.

• Discount or Coupon Code: A free coffee or 10 % off a local tour for pledge‑holders (CopenPay trades green acts for ice‑cream and tickets).

• Leaderboard Recognition: Feature top “stewards of the week” inside your app or on a microsite.

• Physical Token: Squamish’s Red Bag program swaps a full litter bag for treats at partner cafés.

• Volunteer Invite: Offer a follow‑up tree‑planting or beach clean‑up (Mālama Hawai‘i grants a free hotel night for participation).

The Process & Required Materials

Design Your Pledge

Identify Community Priorities: Survey residents, operators, and Indigenous partners to surface the top three issues (e.g., litter, cultural respect, off‑season dispersal).

Draft the Promise (≤ 60 words): Keep the copy positive and specific. NZ’s Tiaki Promise is a perfect postcard‑length example.

Set Success Metrics: Pledges signed, social shares, redemption spend, volunteer hours—pick two or three KPIs you can actually measure.

Choose Rewards (Optional): Decide whether to issue a badge, discount, or token—and secure partner buy‑in early.

Build the Campaign

Create a Challenge in Tourismo:

• Add your pledge copy and terms.

• Enable badge issuance or coupon codes as needed.

Assemble an Asset Kit:

• Pledge Icon & Badge Variants (SVG/PNG).

• Hero Image: People enjoying your place sustainably.

• QR Codes: Link to pledge form or challenge page.

• Printable Poster / Table Tent.

• IG Story & Feed Templates (1080×1920 & 1080×1080).

Stakeholder Hand‑Off: Provide partners with a mini‑guide that explains how to display the pledge and track redemptions.

Promote Your Pledge

Social Media Calendar: Map out four weeks of posts—mix hero visuals, partner spotlights, and user‑generated stories.

Press & Blog Outreach: Pitch local media and sustainability bloggers; reference success stories like CopenPay or Palau Pledge to add credibility.

Paid Campaigns: Run lightweight Meta and Google Ads targeting visitors in‑market.

On‑Site Visibility: Display posters at airports, trailheads, hotels, and visitor centres. Use QR codes to capture on‑the‑spot sign‑ups.

Monitor Your Pledge

Track Sign‑Ups & Rewards: Use Tourismo analytics to see where pledges originate and which rewards drive the most uptake.

Spotlight Champions: Repost traveller stories and business shout‑outs weekly to keep momentum high.

Gather Qualitative Feedback: Poll partners mid‑campaign—are visitors mentioning the pledge? Is redemption smooth?

Close & Evolve

Publish Results: Share a one‑page recap—pledges signed, rewards redeemed, community impact (e.g., 3 700 litter bags collected in Squamish).

Thank Participants: Email signers with a “You made a difference” message and invite them back next season.

Iterate: Plan Year 2 enhancements—add a volunteer day, a new badge tier, or a seasonal challenge to keep the pledge fresh.