Travel Massive Yangon talks digital marketing

Travel Massive Yangon took a deep dive into digital marketing and learned how to capitalize on the online world of travel.

This event recap was written by Bertie Lawson. He is the Managing Director of Sampan Travel, a boutique tour operator based in Yangon. Bertie is the founder and is currently leading Travel Massive Yangon.

The event was hosted at the Tribe Theory Hostel in the end of May. Wai Yan, General Manager of the hostel, showed us how it is itself at the crossroads where tourism and digital nomads collide.

Digital Marketing in Myanmar

Min Than Htut – CEO and Founder of Pro Niti Travel, and Aung Than Toe – Co-Founder and Head of Business Development at Lodggy.com, led an introduction into the digital marketing in the Myanmar’s tourism industry.

Min focused on the psychology behind marketing. He emphasized the difference between marketing and advertising; and how one should do “marketing first, digital later” – meaning spend time thinking about what story you wish to tell, what message you wish to give out, before getting wrapped up in the technology. He said that authenticity was key, and believing in what you were saying.

Aung looked at the different channels of digital marketing most popular in Myanmar; namely Facebook and Instagram. He stressed the importance of tracking and recording the engagement of posts (he does not believe in the value of simple “likes”) and tweaking your message to fit what works. Listening, he said, was one of the most important things of any digital marketing strategy.

Meet the community

Wai Yan, GM or Tribe Theory (and new Travel Massive member) was hosting the event and gave an introduction to the hostel. Former speakers and Yangon Chapter members in attendance were Jochen Meissner (Uncharted Horizons), Mark Shortt (Sa Ba Street Food Tours), Thomas de Van (Kumudra Hill Hotel), and Jack Burma (Green Season Travel). Ohmar from Unlock Myanmar, as well as Mona Konrad and Aung Phyo Lwin helped organise this event.

Connect with Bertie on Travel Massive and join Yangon to attend future events.