Sensory Marketing Strategies in Tourism Experiences
Summary
Sensory marketing strategies in tourism harness the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and tactile dimensions of a destination or service to craft immersive experiences. By orchestrating sensory cues—from the scent of local flora in eco-lodges to carefully curated soundscapes in heritage sites—tourism providers can heighten emotional engagement, shape memorable interactions and foster destination loyalty. These strategies respond to the growing desire for authentic and well-being-oriented travel, contributing to sustainable development objectives and economic resilience within host communities. Underpinning this practice is an interdisciplinary framework that unites environmental psychology, experiential design and consumer behaviour, enabling practitioners to design multisensory touchpoints throughout the visitor journey. Emerging applications range from sensor-enhanced guided tours to aroma-infused hospitality settings, all aimed at differentiating destinations within a competitive global market.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Sensory Marketing Strategies in Tourism Experiences publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sensory marketing strategies in tourism experiences across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Sensory marketing: A strategic approach that engages one or more of the five human senses to influence emotions and consumer behaviour.
Crossmodal effects: Interactions between different sensory modalities by which stimulation of one sense alters perception in another.
Destination identification: The psychological process through which a visitor forms a sense of attachment and personal connection with a place.
S-O-R model: A theoretical framework (Stimulus-Organism-Response) describing how environmental stimuli affect internal states and behavioural outcomes.
Biophilic design: An architectural and interior design philosophy that incorporates natural elements to enhance occupant well-being and environmental resonance.
References
- A Study on How the Five Senses Are Affected When Tourists Experience Towns with Forest Characteristics: An Empirical Analysis Based on the Data of Fujian, Guangdong and Sichuan in China. Sustainability (2021).
- Sensehacking the guest’s multisensory hotel experience. Frontiers in Psychology (2022).
- An Investigation Into the Effects of Destination Sensory Experiences at Visitors’ Digital Engagement: Empirical Evidence From Sanya, China. Frontiers in Psychology (2022).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.