How many tourists does Meghalaya need to sustain its tourism industry and at the same time bring economic benefits for the people? Well, that itself is a million-dollar question that our tourism managers have been asking themselves and probably haven’t as yet found an answer for which they can give ten upon ten. With the arrival of the New Media – Internet, blogs, Facebook, twitter, SMS et al – things can now be much easier, cheaper as also the kind that holds the potential of actually causing a bigger cash flow to the state.
Europe and several countries in that continent have discovered the power and sheer effectiveness of the new media as one of the marketing tools, in the process also getting high-end visitors to their countries. This is just one example.
Meghalaya can surely reach out to a large segment of tourists who are high-end spenders and have been looking for a real break from the monotonous and over-crowded traditional tourist spots as this hill station has all it takes to become a hotspot of tourism. And New Media can provide the answer. As has been already said by the new marketing gurus, don’t think of it as a giant audience to throw your marketing message (translated sales pitch) out into the crowd. Think of it more like any other giant audience where you are gathering with many people for something in common. Let’s say, hanging out in the mall, while on a break from the store where you work located within the mall. And you directly touch your target audience, those who would not only love to be here, in the Scotland of the East, but also make good use of their credit cards and plastic money here.
New Zealand has already worked wonders by making use of the New Media for selling tourism, and it has helped the government as well as the industry save money in advertisements in travel and in-flight magazines, but gets higher returns.
New Media is like word of mouth, and often carries more credibility than the typical “Meghalaya awaits you” type advertisement where one has to write to so and so in order to get more details. And who will do this? Not just the stakeholders and those who love the Abode of the Clouds. People who have been here and have had quality stay and travel in the state will themselves work for us by spreading the good word. Khublei!- By Sam Woodrow
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