AFTER launching last Friday a promotional website targeting tourists as part of its I Need Spain marketing campaign, the National Tourist Office of Spain is now planning to start a dedicated website for the trade.
National Tourism Office of Spain, Mumbai director, Miguel Nieto-Sandoval, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “The Spain Addicts website is a kind of private network for Spain supporters. We will launch a new website in August for the trade. Travel trade members can log on using their password to access detailed information of the destination.”
The NTO also launched a dedicated Facebook page targeting the India market on June 2. Sandoval said: “India is an emerging market for Spain, the third most important in Asia, after Japan and China. We felt the need (for the Facebook page) as more and more people there are using social networking sites to communicate. It will also help build brand awareness and educate people about Spain.”
The Spain in India Facebook page offers regular updates on events, festivals, music, trade fairs, food and other interesting information on Spain, and will also run regular contests for its visitors.
Meanwhile, the National Tourism Office of Spain in India is planning to work closely with the Indian travel trade over the next months. Sandoval said: “We’ll have personalised visits to individual offices in Mumbai and Delhi, and conduct training for staff. Bengaluru and Chennai might also be included for this.”
The NTO has also engaged in joint marketing activities with the upcoming Bollywood film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, due for release on July 15. Sandoval said: “We joined with the film for a marketing campaign, as the plot was Spain-related and the footage filmed entirely in Spain over two months. It connects with the destination.”
According to IATA, Indian arrivals to Spain in 2010 were 10.1 per cent higher than the year before, while 25,667 Indians visited Spain in the first quarter of 2011, a 49.61 per cent year-on-year increase.
By Anand & Madhura Katti
