The put up How fam trips help travel agents and media promote cultural tourism globally appeared first on TD (Journey Every day Media) Travel Daily Media.
Jonker Avenue in Melaka, Malaysia is a visible extravagaza that additionally doubles as a vacation spot for avid consumers and meals lovers
Each time the phrases familiarisation journeys (colloquially shortened to “fam journeys”) are talked about, ideas robotically appear to go to tour operators or journey brokers who need to know sufficient a few location so as to pitch it to potential clients.
Nonetheless, within the context of the rising international penchant for cultural and even pop-cultural tourism, familiarisation excursions aren’t only for brokers, however additionally they assist contributors acquire a greater understanding of the situation by way of its historical past, traditions, tradition, and delicacies.
On this characteristic, we level out a number of the explanation why fam journeys will be an integral a part of tourism promotion, notably within the context of cultural and heritage tourism.
It’s our hope that this text serves to information the considering of tourism boards and different organisations in search of to advertise their dwelling nations or particular places to the world at giant.
The dwell Tangkuban Perahu crater in Bandung, Indonesia serves as a residing ecology lesson that fascinates each native and international travellers
First up, what precisely are familiarisation journeys?
Within the technique of doing the analysis for this characteristic, I’ve seen that many specialists skip defining the time period, and I discover this annoying as a result of not everyone seems to be clued in on what it means.
So let me put it merely right here: a familiarisation journey / fam journey is outlined as a promotional exercise on the a part of a tourism board, airline, hospitality supplier, or cruise agency whereby journey and tourism professionals are invited to tour a particular vacation spot so as to enhance the situation’s picture, expose it to a wider or extra various market, and improve site visitors into the world.
Fam journeys are, certainly, an effective way to offer contributors first-hand expertise of what a location has to supply, basically immersing them instantly into its tradition, traditions, and sights.
No matter whether or not contributors are journey brokers and tour operators, journey media and influencers, and even tourism officers and diplomats, fam journeys must be handled as a priceless platform for studying past mere familiarisation.
Attendees at ITE HCMC 2025 have been inspired to strive their hand on the age-old craft of silk portray in Ho Chih Minh Metropolis
Broadening horizons by way of hands-on expertise
One of many extra memorable sights provided to media and influencers masking ITE HCMC 2025 was a collection of on-site workshops instructing a wide range of conventional crafts from silk portray to baking banh mi from scratch.
Certainly, whereas fam journeys function an expression of nationwide delight for organisers, they will function a means of broadening private horizons for contributors.
As a report from The Tourist Space places it: “Those that are visiting can see the inspirational affect [such experiences] have, the thrill of returning dwelling to share the information of what they’ve discovered and the way they visualise methods through which they may implement related practices inside their very own locations.”
That stated, fam journeys supply an perception right into a location’s historical past, intrinsic practices and traditions, and the trajectory of its socio-cultural in addition to financial improvement.
By doing so, contributors get first-hand info on what methods helped draw travellers into the world, what prompts them to remain and/or return, and the way the neighborhood has benefitted from tourism over time.
The tunnels and outdated camps in Cu Chi, a neighborhood to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, inform travellers the grim story of how the individuals survived all through the warfare years
Past the fantastic thing about places
On the similar time, fam journeys aren’t only a means for nations to point out off magnificence spots, however additionally they function residing lectures on their historical past, together with the darker aspect of it.
Working example: Vietnam has by no means shied away from bringing fam tour teams into areas just like the Cu Chi Tunnels on the northwestern outskirts of Ho Chi Minh Metropolis so as to find out how abnormal individuals fared all through the Vietnam Warfare.
At Cu Chi, tour contributors are led by way of jungle paths to the precise tunnels used all through the warfare, those that led to bunkers that served as strongholds and protected homes for the locals, in addition to those who have been laid as traps in opposition to the enemy.
Such excursions are additionally provided exterior of Asia, with guests making their approach to Alcatraz Jail in San Francisco and the Holocaust Memorials in Europe.
These function a bodily reminder of the savage affect that prison exercise and warfare have on nations, and function visible and psychological warnings to these within the current day of the implications that these could have on society in the event that they occur once more.
For diplomats taken on a fam tour to those places, they function meals for thought to assist steer their considering in direction of extra peaceful relations with their international neighbours.
For the media, alternatively, it helps to create a extra holistic view of a vacation spot, permitting for a extra goal tone when presenting it to the general public.
The Pier-2 Arts Centre in Kaohsiung’s Asia New Bay Space is an industrial space that’s now a hub for the town’s creatives
Earlier than you go…
Previous to collaborating in a familiarisation journey, I discover that it pays to be ready for it nicely beforehand.
Through which case, listed here are a number of ideas that might enable you alongside:
- Do your analysis By this, I would love you to take a actually good have a look at your vacation spot: know its historical past and geography, get to know key sights and the way these have appealed to each native and international travellers; even go so far as what specialities are intrinsic to the world;
- Know the individuals Make sure you recognize who your level particular person for the fam journey, together with any related contacts you may get in contact with for very important info, interviews, and even emergencies;
- Know what to ask That is particularly relevant to members of the media and influencers on such journeys and is expounded to the primary two factors. Realizing the world and the important thing individuals concerned will enable you ask the precise questions. That is notably useful if the fam journey is held along side or instantly after a key occasion comparable to a journey commerce conference or a significant exposition;
- Put together your self As in all circumstances, make sure to costume appropriately for the local weather and tradition of the world you’re visiting. You’ll want to behave in a circumspect method and be conscious of your environment. Likewise, be proactive and advise your host organisations of any bodily circumstances you might have which may affect the journey each for your self and everybody else.
Whereas fam journeys are work journeys in a really technical sense, realizing the terrain so to talk will allow you to benefit from the expertise and are available away with a greater understanding of the world round you.
The put up How fam trips help travel agents and media promote cultural tourism globally appeared first on Travel Daily Media.
