Comments on: Twitter and Tourism – are we following ourselves?

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:21:49 +0000

Great post. The challenge I see is how to get the “right” users to follow you. In the tourism industry, our target market would be travelers who are either planning a trip or are already in the destination. Most travelers aren’t identifying themselves as “fans of LA,” for example, but they may join in a community like this because they’ve been thinking about going to LA. I’ve found it difficult to start a conversation with this audience, and I’d love to hear some ideas.

I think the key is either joining into the travel community around your destination or building the community yourself. The first way would be a lot easier, I think. The second way takes time, and it’s still tough to measure ROI for this if you’re planning to do it on your own.

But yes, I think Twitter in particular has great potential for CVBs and DMOs, and will eventually be a great service for visitors.

By: whatcomcounty

whatcomcounty — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:38:10 +0000

As a DMO, we have used twitter to connect locally with tweeple. We’re just starting out, but we see great opportunity for expanding our local PR efforts about the economic value of tourism. Twitter opens another door for community members and businesses (as well as visitors) to interact and engage in our programs.

By: Shelli

Shelli — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:41:24 +0000

Great post. First, a disclaimer: I’m a twitter newbie. Actually I got an account when Twitter first went live… but had no clue what it was or what it meant… until Martin and Arriana enlightened me on the recent plane ride into SFO for the eTourism Summit. (Thank you.)

While I commend the early adopting, twittering DMOs, most of the ones I see feel too advertisey/commercial to be have their desired effect..?

HINT 1: A DMO needs to figure out what a follower of it (”fan” of your destination or a prospective visitor, or both) would want to know that not many others are privy too? Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think a twitterer wants a slogan or a commercial. We don’t have to look for, or click on ads. They surround us throughout the day. Remember, we’re trying to get away from them…

How about best kept secret or a nugget of late-breaking news…(Example from my region: Steamboat Geyser, asleep for 50 years, is erupting every 2 hours. Check it out! Or” A grizzly and her 2 cubs are hanging out around West Thumb region of Yellowstone Lake.” Or, “It’s 30 below at Old Faithful, making this the coldest place on earth today… and our hot water heater is out.”)

HINT #2: Replace that thumbnail of your tourism division’s logo with a (more interesting) photo of something.

Again, I’m truly a twitter novice, but these are what I consider to be the most effective ways DMOs can capitalize on serving, converting and befriending twitter followers.