Tourism in Assam is poised to enter a new phase with Assam Tourism Development Corporation’s (ATDC) collaboration with Instagram to promote tourism for the State.
A formal unveiling of the hashtag #AwesomeAssam by Instagram took place on Saturday in Guwahati.
An exhibition has also been organized showcasing selected photographs of Assam already posted in Instagram.
A workshop for tourism stakeholders has also been organized for making best use of Instagram’s power of visual storytelling.
Assam is one of the most vibrant states in the country and is known for the Brahmaputra, the Kaziranga National Park, religious and spiritual monuments and tea estates.
But there is much more the state has to offer, that lies unexplored by domestic and international travellers.
“Assam is one of the most beautiful states of India and Government is investing significantly to attract tourists to the state,”said ATDC chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah.
Tourism has in the past few years launched a massive publicity and promotion campaign under the name and tag of ‘Awesome Assam’, he added.
All media of advertising and publicity have been utilized to showcase Assam as one of the most exotic tourist destinations of the country.
Assam Tourism has also stepped into digital and social media platforms to highlight its products.
“We especially want to have an active conversation with today’s youth, and we want to do it in a visual-first manner,” Baruah added.
“This led us to Instagram, as the community is thriving with people who’re young, adventurous, experimental and expressive,” he further said.
Commenting on this collaboration, Tara Bedi, public policy and community outreach manager, Instagram, said, “Instagram is an integral part of tourism in today’s digital age.”
When people travel, they post their adventures on Instagram and those stories inspire others, she added.
“Instagram’s power of visual storytelling enables businesses to drive awareness with highly engaged communities and to reach the right audience,” she also said.
“We’re glad to partner with ATDC and help promote Assam as an incredible Indian travel destination for Indian and international travelers,” she added.
ATDC chairman has also asked everyone to take a positive vibe towards Assam’s enchanting beauty and to take steps digitally to promote the State and thus to attract more tourists towards Assam.
Rajesh Prasad, principal secretary, Department of Tourism, Assam has emphasized on making Assam the best tourist destination in India through these digital media platforms.
The Instagram workshop that was organized as part of the partnership, saw attendance from tour operators, hoteliers, homestay owners, academicians, students, local food & handicraft entrepreneurs.
The workshop was to understand how Instagram can be used for communicating their business’s unique story, connect with people who have similar passions, communicate easily with other customers and businesses, and how they can grow their businesses using the platform.