Tourism Business

3 Tourism Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 8th, 2024

Looking to turn your passion for travel into a profitable venture? Consider starting a tourism business. This enterprise involves organizing unique travel packages and experiences that cater to the interests and needs of various travelers.

You’ll coordinate accommodations, transportation, local tours, and dining options, ensuring seamless and enjoyable trips for your clients. It’s a dynamic field where you can partners with hotels, local guides, and other service providers to offer exclusive deals and access to hidden gems.

Understanding your target market and staying on top of travel trends is crucial. Building a compelling online presence and utilizing social media for marketing will help attract your clientele. It’s a demanding but rewarding endeavor, where your hard work results in unforgettable experiences for tourists. If you love planning and have a knack for logistics, a tourism business could be your ticket to a thriving career.

In this list, you'll find real-world tourism business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a tourism business that makes money.

1. TourScanner ($720K/year)

Simone Semprini, CEO and Co-Founder of TourScanner, came up with the idea for the business while traveling in Brazil and struggling to find activities and tours online. Seeing the opportunity in the growing market for online tours and activities, he developed the concept, connected with co-founders Guillaume Picard and Joseph Dimucci, and launched TourScanner as the first meta-search engine for tours and activities. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, TourScanner has recovered and is now performing better than ever, with a monthly net revenue of $60k and plans to reach $1M ARR in 2022.

How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 5

We Built A $720K/Year Travel Activities And Tours Search Engine

TourScanner, a meta-search engine for tours and activities, achieved monthly net revenue of $60k and plans to reach $1M ARR in 2022, utilizing a lightweight business model based on affiliate programs that earned a commission from referrals sent to major travel companies like Viator, GetYourGuide, Musement, and Groupon.

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2. Let’s Buy an Island ($300K/year)

Marshall Mayer, Gareth Johnson, and Jodie Joyce came up with the idea for Let's Buy an Island after a few drinks and a conversation about owning a private island. They reached out to friends and family, created a website, and convinced over 140 people to invest in their dream. They were able to buy an island in Belize and are now in the process of developing it into a boutique resort.

How much money it makes: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500K
How many people on the team: 7

The First Crowdfunded Private Island: How We Convinced 140 People To Invest In Our Island [Belize]

A group of founding partners have crowdfunded enough money to purchase a private island in Belize, which will soon develop into a boutique resort and is expected to open in 2023, following a successful launch through social media and press releases.

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3. PubClub.com ($24K/year)

Kevin Wilkerson came up with the idea for PubClub.com while in Amsterdam with a friend, realizing the importance of knowing not just where to go in a city, but when to be there. He started the lifestyle website to provide information on travel, nightlife, food and drink, festivals, and sports, and has since expanded it to generate approximately $2,000 a month from advertising with around 25k users per month. Through his background in journalism and PR, he has been able to publish quality content and attract partnerships with tourism boards.

How much money it makes: $24K/year
How many people on the team: 1

I Missed Out On A Party In Amsterdam. So, I Decided To Build A Profitable Tourist Guide Website

PubClub.com, a lifestyle website with information on travel, nightlife, food and drink, festivals, and sports around the world, generates approximately $2,000 a month from advertising and has approximately 25k users/month to its website, with founder Kevin Wilkerson starting the company in order to provide a unique concept for a tourism guide site.

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