Digital Marketing Mix Strategies in the Tourism Industry in Zimbabwe: A Masvingo Tourism Destination Perspective

Abstract

Digitalization is considered as the veritable vehicle of transformation for the tourism industry marketing in this age of the internet economy. It influences all business marketing processes before, during and after a tourism trip in a profoundly revolutionary way. Information distribution is quicker, better, and cheaper regardless of geographical and time limitation due to digitalization. The digital marketing mix, which consists of eproduct, eprice, eplace, epromotion, eprocess, epeople, and ephysical evidence, is a powerful tool in revolutionizing tourism marketing management globally including in Zimbabwe. The aim of the study was to examine the level of use and adoption of digital marketing mix strategies in the tourism industry’s accommodation sector in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. This study adopted a qualitative research design approach with twenty purposively selected key informants from the tourism industry in and around Masvingo Urban. The sample had managers and marketing managers of hotels and lodges who were respondents in the study. Interviews and analysis of digital platforms were the data collection methods. Data was thematically analyzed. The major finding is that the level of adoption and use of digital marketing mix strategies is varied and generally low. Most players still rely more on the traditional analogue marketing mix strategies. The paper recommends the tourism industry in Masvingo to fully adopt and utilize digital marketing mix strategies for them to achieve customer satisfaction and profitability.