If you run a travel website, you’ve probably heard people talk about backlinks like they’re some magic ingredient for SEO. And sure, they help with Google rankings. But the truth is, getting good backlinks takes work. It’s not about spamming blog comments or buying sketchy links. It’s about building real connections, sharing helpful stuff, and being consistent.
This guide breaks it down. No fluff. Just what works.
Why Backlinks Matter for Travel Websites
Let’s start with the basics. A backlink is just a link from another website that points to yours. Google sees backlinks like votes. If trusted sites link to you, it signals that your content might be worth showing to others.
But here’s the thing. Not all backlinks are equal. A link from a small personal blog about hiking might help a little. A link from Lonely Planet or National Geographic? That’s gold.
So if you want more traffic and better rankings, building the right backlinks can help.
What Makes a Good Backlink?
There’s no secret sauce, but here’s what matters:
- Relevance: A travel blog linking to your trekking guide makes sense. A car repair blog linking to it? Not really.
- Authority: Big, trusted websites have more weight. Think travel publications, news outlets, or high-quality niche blogs.
- Natural placement: Links that are part of a useful article are way better than ones stuffed into random footers or directories.
Common Mistakes People Make
Before we get into strategies, here’s what not to do:
- Buying links: It might work short-term, but Google’s smart. If you get caught, your rankings tank.
- Mass commenting: Dropping your link in 100 comment sections might get you flagged as spam.
- Low-quality guest posts: If you’re just churning out 500-word posts for shady blogs, it won’t help much.
Focus on quality over quantity. Ten solid links are better than 100 weak ones.
Create Travel Resources People Want to Link To
This is the slow but steady approach. And it works.
People don’t link to random tour pages or service descriptions. They link to stuff that’s helpful. Think:
- Destination guides
- Packing checklists
- Local food guides
- Sample itineraries
- Travel safety tips
- Visa or entry requirement explainers
If you make something genuinely useful, bloggers, journalists, and other site owners might link to it when they’re writing about that place.
Example: You write a “3-Day Kathmandu Itinerary for First-Time Visitors.” A blogger writing about Nepal might say, “For a full itinerary, check out this helpful guide,” and link to you.
Do a Quick Google Search and Reach Out
Here’s something simple that works.
- Search for articles about your area or niche
Example: “Best things to do in Pokhara” or “How to plan a Nepal trek” - Skim through the results
Look for blog posts or articles that are a couple of years old or missing details you’ve covered better. - Reach out (nicely)
Send them a short email like: Hey [Name],
I found your post on [Topic] while planning a trip, and it was super helpful.
Just thought I’d share this guide we made on [Your Topic] — it has updated info on [specific thing]. Feel free to use it if you ever update your post.
Thanks, [Your Name]
Keep it short and polite. Some people will ignore you. Others will link. It’s a numbers game.
Write Guest Posts (That Don’t Suck)
Yes, guest blogging still works. But only if you do it right.
The old way of blasting out cookie-cutter posts is dead. Instead:
- Target websites that have readers (travel blogs, niche magazines, expat websites)
- Write something worth reading, not a generic “Top 10 travel tips.”
- Make it specific to the site’s audience
Example: Pitch a post like “5 Things Most Tourists Miss in Chiang Mai” to a blog that focuses on Southeast Asia travel.
And don’t stuff your post with links. One or two, naturally placed, is enough.
Get Listed on Local or Niche Travel Directories
Not all directories are bad. Some are helpful, especially for local SEO.
- Look for tourism boards or city guide sites that have “Recommended Tours” or “Local Businesses” sections
- See if they accept submissions or partnerships
- Some may require a fee, but if the site is well-known or gets real traffic, it might be worth it
Bonus tip: Check if your country or city has an official tourism site. Those links are usually solid.
Build Relationships with Travel Bloggers
This takes time, but it pays off.
Here’s how to start:
- Follow a few travel bloggers who write about your region
- Share their content, comment, and engage without expecting anything
- After a while, send a friendly message offering something helpful — a tour invite, access to your guide, or just a thank-you note
- Down the road, you can ask if they’d be open to linking to your content, reviewing your tour, or collaborating
People are way more likely to link to folks they’ve interacted with than strangers out of the blue.
Use HARO (Help A Reporter Out)
HARO is a free service where journalists post requests for quotes or sources.
Here’s how it works:
- Sign up at helpareporter.com
- You’ll get emails daily with requests from journalists and bloggers
- Look for travel-related ones and reply with a quick, clear quote
- If they use it, they’ll usually link to your website
It’s hit or miss, but it only takes a few minutes to respond. One good link from a news outlet is worth it.
Turn Your Customers Into Link Sources
This one gets overlooked a lot.
If you’ve had happy clients, especially bloggers, influencers, or even tour operators in other countries, just ask them.
- “If you’re writing about your trip, feel free to link to our site.”
- “If you post about us on your blog, we’d love to share it.”
A lot of people are happy to link if you just ask politely.
Check What’s Already Linking to You (or Your Competitors)
Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or even free ones like Ubersuggest to see:
- Who’s already linking to you (so you can thank them or build more content like that)
- Who’s linking to your competitors (so you can try to get similar links)
You might find some quick wins there — broken links you can replace, outdated posts you can update, or sites open to new guest posts.
A Few Real Examples
Let’s say you run a tour company in Peru. Here are some things you could try:
- Write a detailed post about “How to Get to Machu Picchu Without the Inca Trail.”
- Share it in Facebook groups or Reddit threads where people ask about Peru travel
- Email small blogs that’ve written Peru posts and offer your guide as an update
- Find local Peruvian blogs and offer to write a guest article on sustainable tourism
- List your company on official regional tourism websites or cultural heritage pages
One backlink at a time.
Don’t Stress About Going Viral
A lot of people think you need some huge viral moment to build links. Not true.
Most solid travel sites grow their backlinks little by little. One blog post here, one mention there. It adds up.
And here’s the honest part — some days it feels like no one responds. But keep going. Keep sending friendly emails. Keep creating helpful content. Eventually, you’ll see results.
Final Thoughts
Backlinks aren’t magic. But they’re still one of the best ways to get more people to your travel site.
Forget the hacks and shortcuts. Focus on making things people want to read and share. Build relationships, not just links.
So next time you’re wondering why your SEO isn’t working, take a step back and ask: “Have I created anything someone would actually want to link to?”
That’s where it starts.
Need help getting started?
If you run a travel site and feel stuck with SEO, start by making one really good guide — something helpful and honest — and send it to five people. That’s it. Just start small.
It’s not easy. But it’s simple.
And it works.
