What is the strategy behind promoting a relatively new destination like Ecuador in the Asia Pacific market?
According to Ecuador International Markets Coordinator Oscar Lopez, it requires a two-pronged approach of targeted promotion and education.
Lopez, speaking exclusively to Travelmole.tv, says the target market is well-travelled clients, who have already visited Europe, and the US, and now crave something new.
"Now is the time to start promoting the destination in Asia Pacific as we know we will get better connections in the future," Lopez said, citing China, India and Australia as key markets.
Equally important is industry awareness of Ecuador’s tourism products.
"We are trying to educate tour operators and show them how to sell our product. We have an international campaign to do this through our website with information targeted specifically at tour operators," he said.
"We publish a travel trade magazine every two months where we concentrate on one main topic and focus on it to help educate our travel partners."
To supplement this educational webinars are conducted in several languages which tour operators can subscribe to and will then receive certification.
One of the major selling points of Ecuador, Lopez explains, is the compact size of the country.
"Tourists can fly just 30 minutes from Quito and be in the Amazon rainforest, drive two hours and be at the Pacific Coast, or take a short flight to the Galapagos Islands."
"We are a small country with four very diverse regions – the Galapagos Islands, Pacific Coast, the Andes Mountains and the Amazon rainforest. This is what we call the ‘four worlds.’
To view the full video interview click here
