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March 14, 2009#

Thoughts for the mobile future – Open Brolly

bbIts been a very active start to the year.

We have had several speaking engagements and are currently planning our Cannes presence. One of the key areas this spring will be to spell out that film tourism need not be difficult to implement. To plan and co-ordinate is a different matter :-)

One area we have been mentioning to clients over the last year is that they need to think about mobile internet access to information. People want to do things as easily as possible and the uptake on using mobile phones for email and getting information is huge; how many Blackberries do you see on the bus and train? I am pleased to see we are in good company Sir Tim Webbers has recently said this is the way ahead. The good thing about the mobile web is that if you have planned your web presence and services well it should not be too difficult to add this service.

In 2009 we expect mobile offerings in our screen agency, tourism and social media offerings.

January 20, 2009#

Museum Demonstrates Google Earth Potential

We’ve received a heads up from Stephen Badham, chair of the MovieSite user group about an impressive use of Google Earth.

The Museo Nacional del Prado has created “Masterpieces” on Google Earth, enabling users of the application to zoom in to the Museum on a map. However, it goes a step further – you can enter the building and view high resolution images.

Museo Nacional del Prado

As Stephen points out, the potential for using Google Earth for film locations is huge: both for marketing and for film tourism. Some ideas:

- Take advantage of Google Earth’s ability to display photographs of locations on a map, and set up a tour of recommended locations for an enquiry. This could be the next generation of web brochure, available now.

Westminister Map

- Add links to film trailers, film publicity stills and location shots, and allow users to fly across your region stopping when something is of interest.

- Create links from Google Earth back to your locations database.

MovieSite supports custom integration with Google Earth. Contact David Sim for further information.

August 26, 2008#

Cineposium 2008 – New Zealand and Tourism Portals

We are excited by this year’s Cineposium agenda, writes Geoff Wilcock.

The key areas we have sought to understand are there:

  1. Film-induced tourism
  2. Regional collaboration
  3. Co-production
  4. Demonstrating value
  5. Marketing of agencies and offices.

By definition, film tourism is likely to be delivered through a portal and so I’ve been doing a lot of desktop research recently on tourism portals. It has led me to understand the value of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). DMOs are essentially formed by tourism businesses in an area (sometimes with public sector support) whereas, all too often, a portal is setup from the top down.

It is impossible to stimulate the involvement and commitment of front-line tourism businesses from the top. The best approach is to give them the means to work towards a common goal. Even in the unlikely event a central portal raises world awareness it cannot sustain dealing with it. The market always wins in the long run; unless it makes sense for tourism businesses to get involved it is not sustainable from the centre. My example of how not to do it is www.visiteurope.com!

My message is borne of experience from when we first set up web sites and Intranets over thirteen years ago. You have to empower those involved to help create something worthwhile. Otherwise, it eventually runs out of steam.

Does anyone know of any web sites / portals in that category?

August 25, 2008#

Upcoming Film Tourism Events

Its good to see such a strong response by the AFCI to film tourism at this years Cineposium in Wellington, New Zealand.

We have been working on developing a film tourism business model that will work for our clients and ourselves. Its slow progress working out the up and downs of options but we think we are getting there.

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