How Murals Can Boost Tourism

Vibrant and expressive murals have long captivated urban landscapes, attracting tourists from around the world. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these murals serve as vital tools for revitalizing communities, promoting local culture, and boosting the tourism economy. Cities worldwide are harnessing the power of murals to transform public spaces and increase foot traffic, with notable examples found in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Miami’s Wynwood district. Here’s how murals contribute to tourism growth and benefit local businesses and communities.

1. Creating Iconic Tourist Attractions

Murals add personality and depth to urban landscapes, turning streets into open-air galleries. A mural creates a memorable landmark that attracts visitors by transforming an ordinary wall into a piece of art. Places like Detroit, famously known as "Mural City," are filled with colorful murals that reflect the city's history, struggles, and aspirations. Tourists often visit these cities specifically to witness the local art scene, making murals must-visit spots that contribute to the area’s cultural and economic landscape.

Philadelphia, too, boasts its world-renowned Mural Arts Program, a public art project that beautifies the city and showcases the talents of local artists. Tourists are drawn to these spots to engage with public art, creating planned and serendipitous encounters with the local culture. For the tourists themselves, the murals are an immersive experience; for the city, they’re a powerful draw.

2. Supporting Local Businesses

Murals also increase tourism by driving foot traffic to nearby businesses. When a mural attracts visitors, it creates a ripple effect for surrounding businesses, such as cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. In turn, local businesses may integrate mural-related themes into their offerings, like specialty drinks or mural tours, enriching the visitor experience and further promoting the neighborhood.

The Wynwood district in Miami is a prime example of this concept. Once an industrial area, it has transformed into a vibrant neighborhood, thanks largely to Wynwood Walls. This extensive mural collection has turned the district into an art and social hub. Local businesses benefit from the foot traffic generated by art-loving tourists, and visitors enjoy a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Miami’s vibrant art scene, especially during the annual Art Basel festival.

3. Placemaking and Urban Renewal

Murals serve as placemaking tools, turning underutilized or unattractive spaces into vibrant areas that attract tourism. Through creative placemaking, cities invest in art programs that aim to rejuvenate neglected areas, improving the quality of life for residents while creating new points of interest for visitors. The strategic placement of murals in these areas can significantly increase foot traffic, revitalizing entire neighborhoods.

For instance, Detroit’s Electrifly Detroit Augmented Reality Mural Festival combines traditional murals with augmented reality (AR) technology, creating interactive murals that add another dimension to the experience. AR murals can come to life through a smartphone app, allowing tourists to see animated art and interact digitally. These tech-infused murals attract tech-savvy visitors and bring renewed attention to areas of Detroit that may have been overlooked previously.

4. Showcasing Social and Cultural Issues

Murals are more than just beautiful; they often carry social messages that resonate deeply with viewers. Murals highlighting social issues attract conscious travelers who wish to understand a community’s values, struggles, and triumphs. This form of storytelling makes a city’s public spaces more relatable and meaningful for visitors, offering them an authentic slice of the local culture.

In Philadelphia, many murals address social issues such as racial equality, community empowerment, and environmental sustainability. By drawing attention to these themes, murals provide travelers insight into the city’s unique challenges and values. Such meaningful engagement fosters a deeper connection between visitors and the destination, creating memories beyond the murals' visuals.

5. Interactive and Augmented Reality Murals

With the rise of digital art, augmented reality (AR) murals are taking traditional murals to new heights. These interactive murals enhance the tourist experience by offering something unique: the ability to engage with the art in real time. By simply using a smartphone or tablet, visitors can bring the artwork to life, adding a new layer of engagement that transforms murals into must-see attractions.

AR murals, like those created by BrandXR’s Electrifly Detroit festival, provide an unforgettable experience that combines art and technology. Tourists not only view the mural but participate in an interactive experience, sharing these moments on social media and extending the mural’s reach. This social sharing amplifies the mural’s impact, effectively marketing the destination to a global audience.

6. Enhancing Social Media Visibility

In today’s digital age, murals offer excellent backdrops for social media photos, especially on platforms like Instagram. A brightly colored mural with an engaging design naturally draws people in, encouraging them to take photos and share their experiences online. This user-generated content acts as free advertising for the city, reaching potential tourists who might add the destination to their travel list.



Murals like those found in Miami’s Wynwood and Detroit’s AR murals have become popular on social media, further establishing these cities as cultural hotspots. When visitors post their mural photos online, they contribute to the city’s brand, building recognition and promoting tourism. Local businesses near these murals also benefit, as visitors discover new places to shop or dine, adding further value to the tourism economy.

7. Supporting Local Artists and Community Identity

Murals provide a platform for local artists to showcase their talent, contributing to the local art scene while supporting the local economy. Many cities have developed art programs that commission local artists to create murals, ensuring the art reflects the community’s identity. This approach promotes cultural pride and gives tourists a sense of the city’s unique creative expression.

In Detroit, Electrifly Detroit has provided opportunities for local artists to create AR murals, adding value to the neighborhood and promoting the city’s tech-forward art scene. This mutual benefit strengthens the community's cultural identity and supports artists in the area while also giving tourists a more personalized and authentic experience.

8. Walking Tours and Guided Experiences

Many cities with a rich mural culture offer guided walking tours that showcase notable murals and tell the stories behind them. These tours give tourists insights into the history, cultural significance, and artistic techniques of the murals, creating a more meaningful experience.

For example, Philadelphia offers mural tours through its Mural Arts Program. This program guides visitors through some of the city’s most famous murals while educating them on the community’s social issues and artistic heritage. This experience deepens visitors’ understanding of the local culture, making their trip more memorable.

9. Boosting Local Economy Through Placemaking

Murals contribute to tourism by attracting visitors and supporting the local economy. When a neighborhood is revitalized through art, property values tend to increase, and businesses in the area often see an uptick in activity. This boost can result in more opportunities for residents and a stronger local economy.

For instance, Miami’s Wynwood Walls has transformed the area into a major tourist destination, attracting visitors who view the murals and enjoy nearby attractions. This increased foot traffic creates a demand for accommodations, dining, and shopping, generating revenue for the city and supporting local entrepreneurs.

10. The Future of Tourism and Murals

The future of murals in tourism lies at the intersection of art, technology, and community engagement. Augmented reality is one avenue that promises to keep murals exciting and relevant for future generations, offering an innovative way for tourists to interact with art. Cities like Detroit and Philadelphia are leading the way, demonstrating how murals can be more than art—they can be transformative experiences that attract tourists, support local economies, and build vibrant communities.

In conclusion, murals are powerful tools for cities looking to increase tourism and revitalize public spaces. Through their beauty, message, and interactivity, murals engage tourists on multiple levels, encouraging them to explore, share, and contribute to the local economy. As more cities embrace murals and augmented reality, the impact on tourism is bound to grow, bringing color, creativity, and economic benefits to communities worldwide.