Still Struggling to Get Travel Leads from Social Media? Here’s Why Pinterest Might Be Your Missing Piece

If you’ve been pouring your heart (and hours) into social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook and still not seeing the website traffic, leads, or inquiries you hoped for—you're not alone.

It’s a common frustration among travel advisors, especially when it feels like you’re creating content for algorithms instead of actual travelers.

But what if we told you there’s a platform that was built to send people directly to your website?

One that doesn’t care about likes, follows, or comments—and instead rewards quality content that helps people plan their dream vacations?

That platform is Pinterest, and it might just be the tool your travel business has been missing.

Why Most Social Media Isn’t Built for Travel Leads

Let’s be real: traditional social media platforms are designed to keep users on the app.

That means fewer link clicks, more distractions, and algorithms that change faster than your favorite cruise line’s itinerary.

Here’s what you’re up against:

- Instagram buries links in bios or Stories (and only if you’ve earned the “privilege”).

- Facebook throttles organic reach unless you pay to play.

- TikTok is a great way to go viral—but rarely converts traffic without tons of manual follow-up.

- Threads, X (Twitter), and others are more about conversation than conversion.

As a result, travel agents/advisors are stuck playing a game where engagement (likes, shares, and follows) gets confused with results (traffic, leads, and bookings).

Enter Pinterest: A Search Engine Disguised as a Social Platform

Here’s the truth: Pinterest is not a social media platform. It’s a visual search engine, more like Google than Instagram—and that changes everything.

Pinterest was designed for one purpose: to help users discover new ideas and take action. And that action usually means clicking through to the source—your website.

5 Reasons Pinterest Works for Travel Agents/Advisors

Whether you specialize in luxury river cruises, family getaways, destination weddings, or off-the-beaten-path adventures, Pinterest offers something that no other platform can: evergreen visibility.

1. Your Pins Work for Years—Not Hours

Most content on Instagram or TikTok has a shelf life of a few days (or hours). But on Pinterest, a single high-quality pin can continue driving traffic for years.

Let’s say you’re a luxury cruise advisor and you post a blog titled: “5 Reasons a Danube River Cruise Is the Perfect Anniversary Trip.”

With an eye-catching graphic and a well-written description using keywords like “romantic European river cruise,” your pin could show up in searches for months—sometimes years—after it’s posted.

Pinterest rewards content that’s helpful, relevant, and optimized, not just recent.

2. You Don’t Need Followers, Likes, or Comments to Win

This is huge, especially for newer agents/advisors. Unlike social platforms that push content based on popularity, Pinterest focuses on search intent.

Here’s what that looks like:

- A family travel advisor creates a pin about “10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean for Kids Under 10.”

- Even if the pin has no likes or followers, Pinterest users actively searching for family travel ideas may discover it—and click.

It’s all about meeting people at the planning stage, not impressing them with your follower count.

3. Pinterest Users Want to Leave the Platform

Yes, really. While Facebook and Instagram want users to stay, Pinterest is designed to send users off to explore recipes, tips, and—your blog or booking page.

If you're an adventure travel agent/advisor who writes a guide like: “Top 7 Hiking Trails in Patagonia for First-Timers,” your pins can lead directly to:

- A blog with affiliate links

- A free travel planning checklist

- Your email sign-up form

- A trip consultation booking form

That’s traffic with purpose—and potential.

4. Pinterest Content Has a Longer Planning Horizon

Pinterest users tend to plan weeks or months ahead. This makes it ideal for travel agents/advisors selling higher-ticket trips.

Think about it:

- A couple planning their 2026 honeymoon isn’t going to book tomorrow—but they might pin your post titled “Romantic Greek Island Itineraries for Every Budget” and come back to it when they’re ready.

- A river cruise enthusiast may save your pin on “The Best Christmas Market Cruises in Europe” even if they’re not traveling until next year.

Pinterest meets travelers early in their buying journey and keeps your content on their radar while they decide.

5. Pinterest Is Where Inspiration Meets Action

Travel is one of the top categories on Pinterest, right up there with home design and recipes. This means you’re marketing to users who are already dreaming about their next escape.

And because Pinterest lets you organize pins into boards, you can shape your brand narrative clearly.

For example:

- Luxury Ocean Cruising Board → Pins featuring ship experiences, suite tours, and destination guides.

- Family Travel Board → Pins linking to packing tips, resort reviews, and age-specific travel advice.

- Romance Travel Board → Destination wedding ideas, honeymoon itineraries, and engagement trip suggestions.

- Adventure Travel Board → Content on hiking, biking, safaris, and lesser-known destinations.

Each board becomes a mini lead funnel.

But... Is Pinterest Too Much Work?

We get it. You’re busy running your travel business, managing clients, and keeping up with supplier updates.

Pinterest may sound amazing in theory—but if you don’t know how to:

- Design pins in Canva

- Write keyword-rich titles and descriptions

- Upload pins to your website

- Schedule them out in advance

…it can quickly fall to the bottom of your to-do list.

Real Results from Agents/Advisors Just Like You

When we first launched our Pinterest course last year, we welcomed 100 advisors—and the results blew us away.

- One luxury cruise specialist got 900+ new website visits in 3 weeks from 5 blog posts.

- A romance travel advisor booked 3 new honeymoons from leads who found her through a pin saved 4 months prior.

- A family travel planner grew her email list by 212 subscribers using a printable packing checklist promoted on Pinterest.

Pinterest works when you work it—and we’ll show you how.

Want to Learn More?

We host free Pinterest masterclasses twice per year, exclusively for travel agents/advisors and agency owners. These sessions are packed with strategies, tools, and real-world examples that help you start (or restart) your Pinterest marketing the right way.

Visit our events page to find out when the next series is running and reserve your seat.  

Spots fill quickly—join us and start turning your website into your best-performing lead generator.