Social media move urged for tourism sector

Tasmania's tourism operators have heard social media marketing could help reverse the state's declining visitor numbers.

The number of visitors to Tasmania has dropped 26 per cent in the past three years, from a peak of nearly 1 million. 

The annual Tasmanian tourism conference has heard cheap overseas travel and the high Australian dollar are luring potential visitors away from the state. 

The Tourism Industry Council's Luke Martin says operators need to adapt to changing travel trends. He wants the state to promote its food and arts scene to the younger generation of tourists. 

"People who have never looked at Tasmania as a favourable destination are now seeing Tasmania as a happening place," he said. 

He says there is a huge opportunity to attract a younger generation of travellers, as well as older travellers, through social media sites and smartphone apps. Tourism operators are also lobbying for a mid-winter cultural festival to lure more visitors. 

The conference was told that combining events like "Ten Days on the Island" into a mid-year festival centred around Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art could solve the state's winter tourism blues. 

The tourism council's Simon Currant says cold weather is not a deterrent. "They don't care what the weather is, they're coming for that event, they're coming for that cultural event, he said. About 350 delegates are attending the two-day conference.

Source: ABCNews