How to Attract Foreign Tourists to Your Local Business Using a Multilingual Website

Picture this: An Australian tourist is planning their Bali vacation. They open their laptop and type into Google: "best villa with private pool Ubud" or "authentic Balinese restaurant near me".

Where do they search? Instagram? No. Google.

Data from Google Travel Insights 2024 shows that more than 83% of international travelers begin their trip research through search engines, primarily Google. This is a fact often overlooked by SME owners in Bali who still focus on Instagram as their only digital strategy.

This article will reveal the secrets of how you can break into the foreign tourist market by building a multilingual website that's not only beautiful but also functional and trustworthy.

Why Do Foreign Tourists Trust Websites More Than Instagram?

Let's first understand the basic psychology of international tourists when searching for services in a foreign country:

1. Tourist Search Behavior: Google First, Always

When a foreign tourist wants to book a spa, villa, or restaurant in Bali, there's a mental process that occurs:

• Step 1: They type into Google (or Google Maps if already at the location).
• Step 2: They look at search results and click on businesses with official websites.
• Step 3: They judge business credibility based on website quality.

Concrete Data:

• According to Stanford Web Credibility Research, 75% of users judge business credibility based on its website design.
• Businesses with professional websites are considered more trustworthy than businesses with only Instagram.

Foreign tourists, especially from developed countries like Australia, Europe, and America, are accustomed to high standards. They're suspicious of businesses without their own "digital home." Instagram is seen as a "brochure," not proof of legitimacy.

2. Trust Factor: Why Website = Legitimacy

There's a psychological phenomenon called "Domain Authority Trust". When someone sees a unique domain like villabaliserenity.com, their brain automatically assumes the business is:

• Established and serious (already invested in a website)
• Accountable (has address, contact, and complete information)
• Professional (provides a good user experience)

Conversely, businesses that only rely on "DM for booking" on Instagram give the impression of being:

• Unprofessional
• Potentially a scam
• Difficult to contact if problems arise

Fact: Foreign tourists often cross-check — they check Instagram accounts, then search on Google to ensure the business is "real." If there's no website, many skip and choose competitors.

3 Essential Website Features to Attract Foreign Tourists

Now you understand why websites are important. But not just any website. There are 3 crucial features that must be present for your website to effectively attract foreign tourists:

Feature 1: Google Maps Embed — Make It Easy for Them to Find You

Foreign tourists heavily depend on Google Maps. They might not know the roads in Bali, but they're very familiar with Google Maps.

Why This Matters:

• 78% of travelers use Google Maps for navigation while traveling (source: Google Consumer Insights).
• Embedding Google Maps on your website provides instant trust — they can see your location is real.
• The "Get Directions" feature directly from your website reduces friction and increases visit likelihood.

Best Implementation:

<!-- Example of responsive Google Maps embed -->
<iframe 
  src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18..." 
  width="100%" 
  height="400" 
  style="border:0;" 
  allowfullscreen="" 
  loading="lazy">
</iframe>

Pro Tip: Make sure your business is registered on Google Business Profile with complete information. An embedded map connected to your business profile will significantly improve local SEO.

Feature 2: English Language Menu (Language Switcher) — Speak Your Customer's Language

This is the feature most often overlooked by Bali SMEs, yet its impact is tremendous.

Surprising Data:

• According to CSA Research, 76% of consumers prefer to buy products/services with information available in their own language.
• 40% of consumers will never buy from websites only available in a foreign language.

Australian, European, or American tourists cannot read Indonesian. If menus, descriptions, and prices are only in Indonesian, you're losing the majority of your potential market.

Best Implementation:

• Use a Language Switcher (ID/EN button) clearly visible in the website header.
• Translate all important content: menu, service descriptions, FAQ, terms & conditions, and contact.
• Use natural English, not stiff Google Translate results.

Ideal Multilingual Website Structure:

yourwebsite.com/id/menu     → Menu in Indonesian
yourwebsite.com/en/menu     → Menu in English

Feature 3: WhatsApp Link Generator — One-Click Communication

WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world with 2+ billion active users. Interestingly, foreign tourists, especially from Europe and Australia, also use WhatsApp as their primary communication tool.

Why This Is a Game-Changer:

• Tourists don't want the hassle of writing down phone numbers, adding to contacts, then opening WhatsApp.
• A one-click WhatsApp button directly connects them to your chat with a template message.
• This drastically reduces friction and increases conversion rates by up to 40% (source: HubSpot).

Best Implementation:

Use the WhatsApp API link format:

https://wa.me/6281234567890?text=Hello,%20I%20want%20to%20book%20a%20room

Components:

• 6281234567890 → Your business WhatsApp number (international format, without +)
• text=... → Pre-filled automatic template message

Effective Message Templates:

• For villas: "Hello, I'm interested in booking a villa for [DATE]. Is it available?"
• For restaurants: "Hi, I'd like to make a reservation for [NUMBER] guests."
• For tours: "Hello, I want to inquire about the [TOUR NAME] package."

Case Study: Digital Transformation of an Ubud Villa Business

Let's look at a real example. Villa Serenity Ubud (name anonymized) is a boutique villa with 5 rooms that initially only relied on Airbnb and Instagram.

Problems Faced:

• 90% of bookings from Airbnb (15-20% commission)
• Direct messages on Instagram often not answered quickly
• Tourists had difficulty finding the physical location
• Revenue stagnant for 2 years

Solutions Implemented:

1. Built a multilingual website (ID/EN)
2. Google Maps embed integration with accurate location pin
3. WhatsApp button with booking template
4. SEO optimization for "private villa Ubud" keyword

Results After 6 Months:

• Direct bookings increased 165% — reducing dependency on Airbnb
• Commission costs dropped IDR 45 million/month
• Organic Google traffic increased 320%
• Faster response times with WhatsApp automation

Checklist: Is Your Website Ready to Attract Foreign Tourists?

Use this checklist to evaluate your business website:

Essential (Must Have)

• [ ] Responsive website (mobile-friendly) — 70% of tourists browse from smartphones
• [ ] Professional appearance with high-quality photos
• [ ] English available (at least main page and menu)
• [ ] Google Maps embed with accurate location
• [ ] Easy-to-find WhatsApp button
• [ ] Complete contact information (email, phone, address)
• [ ] Fast loading speed (< 3 seconds)

Optional but Recommended

• [ ] Online booking system
• [ ] Testimonials/reviews from international guests
• [ ] FAQ in English
• [ ] Blog with Bali content (for SEO)
• [ ] Integration with Google Business Profile
• [ ] SSL certificate (https://) for security

Keywords You Should Target

To increase visibility on Google, target the right keywords. Here are examples of high search volume keywords:

Primary Keywords (High Intent):

• "Web design Bali for tourism"
• "Bali villa website"
• "Best [your business] in [location]"

Long-tail Keywords (More Specific):

• "how to promote business to foreign tourists"
• "multilingual website for Bali business"
• "how to book [service] in Bali"

Local Keywords:

• "[service] near [landmark]" (example: "spa near Monkey Forest Ubud")
• "best [category] in [area]" (example: "best seafood restaurant Jimbaran")

Conclusion: Don't Let Tourists Pass You By

The foreign tourist market is a gold mine for Bali local businesses. But to tap into this potential, you can't just rely on Instagram.

Foreign tourists search via Google. They trust official websites. They need information in their language.

By building a multilingual website equipped with:

1. Google Maps Embed — making it easy for them to find you
2. Language Switcher (ID/EN) — speaking their language
3. WhatsApp Link — instant one-click communication

...you're not only attracting more foreign tourists but also building trust, credibility, and sustainable revenue.

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Ready to build a multilingual website for your business?

We at Bali Web Developer specialize in building professional websites designed specifically for the Bali tourism market. From villas to restaurants, from tour operators to spas — we help local businesses reach international markets.

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