Call to leverage social media for tourism promotion

TechnoparkToday.com > Travel and tourism industry stakeholders stressed the need to step up exploring the potential of social media and information technology in their promotional activities at a workshop organised jointly by Kerala Tourism and Facebook here on Thursday.

Titled ‘Travel Goes Social’, the event was second in the leg of a special campaign for travel and tourism professionals that began in Thiruvananthapuram on November 20. The theme of the workshop was ‘Travel & Tourism: Leveraging Social Media and Information Technology’.

In his address  on ‘IT-enabling Travel, Tourism and Logistics’, Shri Anand Parthasarathy, senior journalist and IT expert, pointed out that ‘mobile plus social media’ is a compelling combo for travel and tourism industry.

“You have to actively engage consumers across the mobile and social media channels. A web presence is a key business tool,” Shri Parthasarathy told a packed gathering of representatives of travel and tourism industry at the Bolghatty Palace Hotel here.

Mr. Parthasarathy suggested that the industry should handle social media with care. “Close the gaps and improve your offerings before you go and explore the possibilities of social media and IT,” he said.

Mr Sachin Rao, Head of Small & Medium Business, Facebook (India), said that travel is inherently social and it is today more difficult to capture customers attention than before. He said that travel industry thrives on recommendations shared among trusted friends.

Mr Rao said that Facebook’s unique ability to connect people lets the travel and tourism industry to source feedback for products and services and strengthen their brand.

Ms Esme Lean, Facebook Advertising Specialist, gave a talk on “How to use Facebook in Travel industry”. Shri Abraham George, president of the Kerala Travel Mart, and Shri C. K. Ponnappan, Joint Director, Department of Tourism, spoke.