Destinations That Do It All: How Digital Passports Highlight History, Arts, Culture, and More

Experience Columbus: A Marketplace of Experiences

The Experience Columbus Marketplace is a great example of how destinations can scale their digital passport strategy.

Instead of offering a single pass, Columbus created a centralized hub where visitors can browse a variety of experiences and themed offerings. The marketplace makes it easy for travelers to discover activities across the destination—from attractions and tours to cultural experiences and seasonal events.

By creating a marketplace for digital passes, destinations can:

• Give visitors a one-stop place to explore experiences
  
• Highlight different categories of activities across the city
  
• Continuously add new passes tied to campaigns, seasons, or events
  

This approach helps visitors build their own itinerary while providing ongoing visibility for local partners.

For destinations looking to expand their digital passport strategy, a marketplace model makes it easy to introduce new campaigns and showcase the full range of what the community offers.

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Visit Cumberland Valley: Trails for Every Interest

Visit Cumberland Valley uses multiple digital passport trails to encourage visitors to explore the region through themed experiences.

Their passport collection highlights a variety of interests, including:

• Craft beverage trails featuring breweries, wineries, and distilleries
  
• Coffee and chocolate trails highlighting local cafés and sweet shops
  
• Seasonal experiences that encourage repeat visits
  
• Local food and drink destinations across the region
  
  

These destination marketing passes turn simple outings into interactive adventures where participants can check in at participating locations and work toward rewards.

By offering several themed trails, Cumberland Valley creates multiple entry points for visitors to explore the region. A craft beverage enthusiast might start with the Beer Trail, while another visitor might discover the destination through a coffee or sweets experience.

The result is increased engagement with local businesses and longer visitor stays.

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Visit Franklin: Exploring History, Arts, and Culinary Experiences

Franklin, Tennessee uses digital passports to highlight the many layers of its community—especially its rich history and thriving arts and culinary scene.

Visit Franklin’s digital passport offerings include themed experiences such as:

• Historic site tours
  
• Mural and public art trails
  
• Coffee shop experiences
  
• Cocktail and spirits trails
  
• Sweet treat trails featuring local bakeries and dessert spots
  
  

These experiences allow visitors to explore the destination based on their interests while introducing them to businesses and attractions they may not have discovered otherwise.

For example, Franklin’s history-focused passport guides visitors through significant landmarks and stories that shaped the region.

By pairing historic storytelling with food and cultural experiences, Franklin’s digital passport strategy creates a well-rounded way to experience the destination.

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Why Multi-Experience Digital Passports Work

Destinations that offer multiple themed passes often see stronger engagement because they appeal to different types of travelers. Here’s why digital passports for tourism are so effective:

They showcase the full destination story

From arts and culture to outdoor recreation and culinary experiences, digital passports help destinations highlight everything their community has to offer.

They attract multiple audience segments

Foodies, history lovers, art enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers can all find experiences tailored to their interests.

They encourage repeat visits

A visitor might complete a coffee trail on their first trip and return later to explore a history pass or craft beverage experience.

They drive traffic to local businesses

Destination marketing passes guide visitors to multiple stops throughout the community, increasing visibility and economic impact for partners.

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Turn Your Destination Into an Interactive Experience

Every community has unique stories to tell.

With digital passports, destinations can package those stories into interactive experiences that inspire exploration, support local businesses, and provide measurable results for tourism organizations.

Whether it’s a history trail, a food and drink experience, an art tour, or a full experience marketplace, digital passports help destinations showcase the best of their community in one engaging platform.

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Ready to Launch Your Own Digital Passport?

Bandwango powers digital passport programs for destinations across North America, helping tourism organizations drive engagement, support local businesses, and track real visitor impact.

If you’re interested in launching digital passports for your destination marketing organization, we’d love to help.

Book a demo with Bandwango and see how destination marketing passes can bring your community to life.