Tech-savvy backpackers could become a vital key for tourism operators to market Australia overseas, a conference has heard.
The Australian Tourism Export Council's (ATEC) Backpacker Conference on Tuesday heard backpackers were bypassing the traditional tourism agent and choosing their holidays online, largely influenced by travel blogs and social networking sites such as Facebook, My Space and YouTube to make their decisions.
Tourism NSW international marketing group manager Carmel Beattie told delegates at the conference in Newcastle they had to embrace the online revolution if they wanted to stay ahead.
Ms Beattie said the industry should not fear travel blogs, which could deliver good and bad reviews of their businesses, but revel in the feedback that had not been available in the past.
"In a way it really keeps us up to the mark," she said.
"We have to provide really great experiences because if we're not they'll certainly be telling people.
"(And) maybe we can learn from that because if what we think is happening is different to what the punter is actually expecting, or in fact what the punter thinks they're getting, I think that's when you really have to think about, 'Is that okay?'."
Internet kiosk company Global Gossip marketing manager Jesse Desjardins told the conference overseas tourism businesses were already embracing technology to boost their businesses.
He said one example was the new Flip camera which took video to be uploaded straight to the YouTube video sharing website.
He said tech-savvy US tour groups were already embracing the new technology by giving the cameras out to backpackers and then uploading the video to showcase the best of their business on travel and video sites.
"The great thing about backpackers is that they have so much free time and most of these people will do this stuff for free if you know how to ask the right questions, if you know how to give the right incentives," he said.
"If you want to get two or three backpackers who are good at this sort of stuff, give them a couple free nights at your hostel, get them to help you out with your marketing."
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