WTM hijacking, Egyptian webcams and Ryanair’s change of heart

As we come to the end of World Travel Market 2013, we’ve once again been treated to an insightful, informative and inspiring set of social media sessions. With talks from Facebook, Google, TripAdvisor and a host of tourist boards, it’s clear that the travel and tourism industry is embracing online more than ever before. Audiences were challenged to take on ‘Big Data’ in the quest to personalise, individualise and segment online marketing efforts. Attendees will no doubt come away feeling excited by the opportunities, if not a little apprehensive about the size of the task that lays before them. Just how do you best harness all that social data?

The Maldives, best known in the travel industry as a collection of sunny Indian Ocean islands popular with affluent travellers, has gained a different kind of publicity this week. Human rights activists have hijacked an official Twitter hashtag associated with World Travel Market where the country is exhibiting, using the convention to urge a boycott of the island nation’s plush resorts. Anyone viewing the WTM’s official hashtag, #WTM13, will discover streams of photographs depicting alleged instances of police brutality in the Maldives. So far, the Maldives’ tourism officials haven’t publicly responded to the campaign.

Egypt is embracing technology to help improve its image. A spokesperson from the Egyptian State Tourist Office revealed at World Travel Market this week that webcams would be used to help increase visitor numbers to the country after unrest over the summer. She said that live video streaming will be used in popular tourist destinations in the Red Sea area to show "what other people are enjoying and to encourage the tourists to keep on coming".

Following Michael O’Leary’s highly publicised #TellMOL Twitter Q&A, it seems that our Ryanair gripes have been answered. The return to allocated seating, the allowance of a second small carry-on bag and check in luggage being reduced from £60 to £30 per bag should hopefully lead to an overall more pleasant journey with Ryanair. Whilst sceptics argue that the new customer service initiative is designed to improve the image of notoriously outspoken "Mr. Ryanair", here at Siren we welcome the initiatives regardless… we just wish they’d get rid of the fanfare announcement on landing.

Finally, film buffs should start saving up for the trip of a lifetime as travel companies Very First To and Unmissable collaborate to create the ultimate journey through film. For £200,000 guests can enjoy a 90-day round-the-world trip visiting 20 of the most famous and revered film locations. Guests will travel to 10 different countries and can venture into locations made famous in films including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Beach and The Motorcycle Diaries.