QTA seminars showcase potential of e-commerce and marketing
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Qatar Tourism Authority has staged the first in a series of seminars aimed at educating the Qatari tourism trade about the commercial benefits of e-marketing.The seminar, which was presented by e-marketing expert Damien Cook, showcased the potential of e-marketing and the growing role of social networks such as Twitter, FourSquare and Facebook in the tourism sector and how the industry can exploit the popularity of these new forms of communications. Cook also showed the effect social media tools had on increasing sales of tourism institutions and hotels around the world.The workshop was a precursor to a course for Qatar’s tourism professionals which will be held by QTA in coming months. The two-day e-Marketing Course in association with E-Tourism Frontiers will focus on the importance of e-marketing and presents ways and means to exploit that opportunity and transform the Internet into a diverse open market to promote tourism products and services.The workshop will delve into a number of case studies including looking at the use of e-marketing by the South African tourism industry during the 2010 World Cup. It will also focus on the importance of marketing through social networks on the Internet, the basic components of digital marketing, and how to manage tourism and publishing electronically.Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority, said the internet had become an essential tool for all aspects of the tourism industry including making reservations for travel and accommodation. “[Cook’s] presentation is important to the QTA’s plans to enhance and develop training for the industry in important and pressing issues we face,” he said. “It also reflects the commitment of the QTA to take a leadership role in the field of marketing and promotion of Arab tourism.””Recent studies in the field of e-marketing indicated the need to adopt a strategy and culture of tourism,” he said. “This is in light of the global trend towards the growth of digital economy, digital technology, electronic commerce and electronic information sources, in addition to the growing use of social networks as well as electronic search engines and e-negotiation in tourism and service businesses.”
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