Press Releases and Backlinks: Why External Links Matter for Tourism SEO


By VoyaPress June 20, 2026

Backlinks are one of the most misunderstood parts of tourism SEO. Some businesses think backlinks are a quick trick to rank higher. Others ignore them completely and focus only on their own website.


The truth sits in the middle.


Backlinks are not magic. But they do matter.

For tourism businesses, a backlink from a relevant external article can help search engines and readers understand what your business offers, where it operates, and which pages are important.


That is one reason press releases can be useful. A well-written press release can create an external article that links back to your website in a relevant context.

What Is a Backlink?

A backlink is a link from one website to another.

For example, if VoyaPress publishes an article about a new safari package and that article links to the safari operator’s package page, that link is a backlink.

Backlinks are useful because they create pathways.

They help:

  • readers find your website
  • search engines discover your pages
  • your brand appear in more places online
  • your offer connect to relevant search topics
  • your website build external context

For tourism businesses, this can be especially important because buying decisions often involve research across multiple websites.


Why Backlinks Matter in Tourism

Tourism customers rarely book without research.

A traveller may search for:

  • best safari lodges in Limpopo
  • private tours in Cape Town
  • family-friendly safari packages
  • Garden Route retreats
  • Victoria Falls and Botswana itinerary
  • things to do near Kruger National Park
  • travel agent safari packages

They may read blogs, compare operators, check reviews, look at social media, and visit different websites before sending an enquiry.

Backlinks help place your business inside that wider research journey.

A press release can introduce your offer on an external platform and send the reader to the exact page where they can learn more.


Press Release Backlinks Should Be Relevant

Not all backlinks are equal.

A link should make sense in context.

For example, a press release about a lodge’s new honeymoon package should link to:

  • the honeymoon package page
  • the accommodation page
  • the enquiry form
  • the special offer page

It should not randomly link to unrelated pages.

Relevant backlinks are better for users and better for SEO.

The goal is not to collect links for the sake of links. The goal is to create useful connections between external content and your most important tourism pages.


Press Releases Help Support Campaign Pages

Many tourism businesses launch campaigns but only promote them through social media or email.

That means the campaign often has a short life.

A press release can extend the campaign’s reach.

For example:

A lodge launches a winter special.
The lodge creates a landing page.
A VoyaPress article announces the special.
The article links to the landing page.
The article is shared through a mailer or social media.
The release becomes an external search result connected to the campaign.

That gives the campaign more visibility than a single Facebook post.


Link to Specific Pages, Not Only the Homepage

One common mistake is linking every press release back to the homepage.

The homepage is useful, but it is not always the best destination.

A stronger SEO approach is to link to the most relevant page.

Examples:

  • New safari package → package page
  • New lodge opening → lodge page
  • Agent announcement → trade page
  • Conservation project → conservation page
  • Seasonal special → landing page
  • Event announcement → event page
  • Destination campaign → destination page
  • New service → service page

This helps users land closer to the information they need.

It also helps search engines understand which pages are connected to which topics.


Anchor Text Matters

Anchor text is the clickable wording of a link.

For example:

Click here is weak anchor text.
South Africa safari package is stronger anchor text.

The second version gives more context.

For tourism SEO, use anchor text that describes the page naturally.

Examples:

  • guided safari packages
  • family-friendly lodge accommodation
  • Cape Town day tours
  • Garden Route retreat
  • Victoria Falls itinerary
  • tourism marketing services
  • travel trade information

Avoid forcing exact keywords into every link. Keep it readable.


Press Releases Can Build a Stronger Online Footprint

A single press release is useful.

A consistent press release strategy is stronger.

Over time, a tourism business can build a searchable archive of updates around:

  • new offers
  • packages
  • trade announcements
  • destination news
  • seasonal campaigns
  • media mentions
  • partnerships
  • guest experiences
  • conservation work

This creates more online references around the brand.

For SEO, that wider footprint helps reinforce what the business is about.



Bottom Line

Press releases are a practical way for tourism businesses to build relevant external links.

They should not be treated as a backlink shortcut. They should be part of a broader SEO and distribution strategy.

When used properly, press releases can help lodges, tour operators, travel agencies, DMCs, activity providers, and destination brands link important news to important website pages.

Publish your next tourism announcement on VoyaPress and create a relevant external article that links back to your most important page.

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