Social network taking off but tourism operators shouldn’t pin hopes on one platform

A social media guru has reveleaved the “next big thing” for Australian tourism operators at a conference in Launceston.

PINTEREST will be the “next big thing” for Australian tourism operators, according to a social media guru, but there’s a word of caution for businesses before they jump on the web to create an account.

Tourism businesses got tips on how to grow their operations, from finding tourism hot spots to learning how to handle social media, at the first day of the Tasmanian Tourism Conference in Launceston yesterday.

Example of tourism marketing from a Tasmanian operator on the social network site Pinterest.

Meg Coffey, a social media expert who runs consultancy firm Coffey and Tea, said 66 per cent of Pinterest users indicated they used the platform to plan their next holiday.

“It’s bucket-list panning, it’s long term,” she said.

“You’re not going to get the sale today like you might on Facebook or Instagram, so that’s why make sure the other ones are working for you, then branch into Pinterest.”

Ms Coffey said operators needed to be mindful of pitfalls, such as over-editing photos (”manage my expectations as a visitor”), or messaging their intended audience at the wrong time of day.

“Bring it back to the fundamentals and go: what am I actually trying to do here and am I adding value to conversation or am I just making more noise, more stuff?”

The conference’s first day also featured the cultural experience of Tasmania’s unique Aboriginal heritage, and how to find adventure seekers.

It concludes today with a program of industry leaders and a special presentation on the risk of climate change to tourism.