A ‘New Media Boot Camp’ will take place on 26 May near Pakse, Laos, just before the Mekong Tourism Forum 27-28 May. The event has been created so that travel bloggers, journalists and travel industry operators can come up with ideas to implement new media channels, and use emerging technologies to promote the Mekong region. The Boot Camp will be hosted by Jens Thraenhart, the global e-tourism expert, blogger and President of Dragon Trail.
Thraenhart said that the boot camp has three broad objectives: 1) to bring together travel bloggers in the Mekong region, share best practices, learn, and network; 2) to inform international travel bloggers – consumer and trade – about the Mekong subregion, to learn about its opportunities and challenges; 3) to educate travel suppliers, from hotels, travel agents and attractions how to leverage social media marketing and web 2.0 technologies.
“The future of destination marketing is online,” said Thraenhart. “Especially in the Mekong region, which attracts a younger, tech-savvy demographic. They all want to read and share travel advice online before, during and after their trip. The boot camp will help media and the travel industry engage meaningfully with such travellers.”
Each session will be conducted voluntarily by bloggers. “We will cover issues such as dealing with positive and negative hotel reviews, how to integrate web 2.0 technologies into travel websites, how to measure social media and digital marketing campaigns, new media pitfalls and opportunities, and how to start a successful blog,” Thraenhart explained.
The New Media Boot Camp will take place at La Folie Lodge, Dong Daeng Island in the Mekong River, a one-hour journey from the Mekong Tourism Forum in Pakse.
Following the Boot Camp in the morning of 26 May, attendees have lunch and then will be taken to the ancient Vat Phou Temple Complex. Later the group will board a private Mekong River sunset cruise aboard the Vat Phou Boat and sail back to Pakse.
The Boot Camp at is limited to just 50 people. For more information, or to register, email: newmedia@mekongtourism.org.
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