1.
Digital
Innovation
Asia,
explores
forward-­‐thinking
digital
trends
in
travel
and
tourism
prior
to
PATA
Annual
Summit
in
Bangkok
Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) has partnered with the Pacific Asia Travel Association
(PATA), as well as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to increase relevance to
the industry when it comes to digital innovation in travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific
region. Delegates of the PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok from April 25-27th
, can take
advantage of attending the China Boot Camp and Digital Aid Asia at a 40% discount.
Located alongside, the Digital Innovation Asia events are deliberately timed to lead into
and support the PATA Summit at the end of April, and follow TTM+ in June, to stage
digital events, which include the Digital Innovation Asia Awards, Digital Aid Asia, Blogger
Match-Up Asia, Speak-Out Asia. Kicking off the series of events, the China Boot Camp
on April 23rd
at Pullman Hotel G Bangkok will help travel companies understand the
Chinese travel market, and how to market to affluent Chinese consumers, followed by
Digital Aid Asia Forum on April 24th
at zuma Restaurant (at St Regis Hotel Bangkok).
Register at www.DIAsiaTourism.eventbrite.com. Like us on Facebook (DIAsiaTourism)
and follow us on Twitter (@DIAsiaTourism), and receive a 20% discount code by
sending us a Facebook message. The complete programs can be downloaded at
www.slideshare.net/DIAsiaTourism.
China has become the world largest single source market for international
tourism revenues – but how to market to the most valuable, high-yield
affluent Chinese consumers?
The China Boot Camp on April 23rd
will help companies understand how to reach and
connect with “the new Chinese tourist” and affluent consumers, by leveraging the
complex social media landscape in China. Delegates will be able to hear about the
latest trends in marketing to Chinese consumers, and learn about the rapidly changing
and evolving Digital and Social Media Landscape in China, including the latest start-ups.
Taking a deep dive into the complex and unique digital and social media landscape in
China, the April 23rd
China Boot Camp will feature the unique opportunity to engage with
three top Chinese bloggers, sponsored by Chinese travel social media website
Tripshow.com. Interested travel companies can apply to be part of a Chinese mini
blogger match-up the morning prior to the China Boot Camp.
Every participant will receive a hard-copy version of the latest Essential China Travel
Trends Book (for free e-book download available at www.chinatraveltrendsbook.com),
and a special offer for a one-year Basic membership from TripShow.com, valued at RMB
5,000 or USD 800 (Note: Sina Weibo account is required).

2. According to the latest data from the UNWTO from April 2013, Chinese nationals spent a
record US$102 billion on overseas travel 2012, taking it to the top of the international
standings and making it the first country ever to achieved nine-digit spending in US
dollar terms. The result marks the culmination of a sharp rise in Chinese outbound travel
over the past decade. International travel from China has become a major source of
growth for providers in the destination countries. There will be an average of 25 million
first-time Chinese travellers every year, or 70,000 every day, for the next 10 years. An
increasing number of second and multiple times Chinese visitors are more likely to travel
independently, and not part of a group, meaning that they have a greater choice of
timing and destinations. They have the opportunity to explore ‘off-the-beaten-track’
venues and can look for holidays and activities that suit their personal interests.
Jens Thraenhart, Founder of Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) says: “The way many
Chinese consumers are finding out about new destinations and travel services, as well
as hotel or cruise brands is via the Internet. With over 564 million Internet users in China
in April 2013 (an increase of 40 million new Internet Users in just the last year) which
represents over 42% of their population and almost double the population of the US,
more than 80% of Chinese travellers research and educate themselves about
destinations and brands online. Chinese consumers are increasingly being influenced by
digital and social media marketing, and any travel suppliers looking to enter the Chinese
market need to lead with digital, mobile, and social media marketing.”
Sustainable Tourism 2.0 - digitally powering and taking responsible
tourism development to the next level. First ever conference focusing on
responsible tourism development and capacity building via technology,
social media, and mobile
On April 24th, the Digital Aid Asia Forum is the first ever conference focusing on
helping emerging tourism regions across Asia to learn how to leverage technology and
digital media for capacity building to develop tourism in a responsible way and drive
poverty alleviation. Linked with the 2013 PATA Annual Summit (PAS) in Bangkok from
April 25-26, Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) is organizing the first ever Digital Aid Asia
Forum on April 24th at trendy zuma Restaurant at the St Regis Hotel in Bangkok.
Emceed by media and global tourism personality Ms. Anita Mendiratta of CNN T.A.S.K
Group, speakers including Google, Mekong Tourism, PATA, BeMyGuest.travel,
WIT, DIA, Cambodia e-Visa, Future e-Learning Resources, and Backpacker
Magazine Southeast Asia, will discuss the issues from crisis management, human
trafficking, human resources development, capacity building from micro-financing and e-
Visa, and how internet and emerging technologies, mobile, and social media can act as
an enabler and catalyst to drive positive economic growth supporting the visitor
economy.
Mr. Martin Craigs, CEO of PATA says: “We are naturally motivated to partner with
Digital Innovation Asia. These events are a perfect primer for next gen minded mentors
the day before our summit. Mobile, digital, and social media in Asia are "m-powering" the
complete Visitor Economy, clearly a catalyst for balanced travel and tourism growth in
the region. The China Boot Camp and Digital Aid Asia will be inspirational, thought
provoking covering issues like crisis management, e-Visa, and human trafficking.”

3. Nominations for the Digital Innovation Asia Awards are being accepted from now until
May 31st
, and the DIA Awards Celebration will be on June 10th
at famous Bed
Supperclub in Bangkok. There is no charge for nominations, and it is open travel and
tourism organizations, content creators, and agencies, as well as travelers. The Digital
Innovation Asia Awards recognize the most forward thinking yet performance-oriented
digital innovations in the Pacific Asia travel and tourism industry.
Categories include “Most Engaging Website”, “Most Viral Campaign”, “Most
Creative Use of Technology”, “Most Inspiring Content”, “Most Impactful Startup”,
and “Most Innovative Digital Organization”.
The DIA Awards are overseen by members of the new Digital Innovation Asia Council,
an invite-only forum of the most senior e-commerce executives and digital marketing
thought-leaders from hotels, airlines, and tourist boards from all corners of the Asia
Pacific region. We encourage all travel and tourism organizations to submit their best
digital work, and work they have admired over the past 15 months from January 2012 to
April 2013. Please visit our DIA Awards partner TravelDailyNews.Asia to submit your
nominations at http://goo.gl/rRVwS.
Digital Innovation Asia is endorsed and supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association
(PATA), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO), the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN), the Mekong Tourism
Coordinating Office (MTCO), the Tourism Technology Association (TTA), the Global
Business Travel Association (GBTA), the International Federation of IT in Travel and
Tourism (IFITT), and the International Association of Travel and Tourism Professionals
(SKAL).
The complete DIA/PAS program:
April 23: China Boot Camp – Pullman Hotel G (10:30 am – 4:30pm)
April 23: DIA Pop-Up Party – Pullman Hotel G (6 pm – 8 pm)
April 24: Digital Aid Asia – zuma Restaurant (10:30 am – 4:30 pm)
April 25: PATA Youth Forum - Thammasat University (9 am – 3 pm)
April 25: PATA Opening Party (open for DIA delegates) – Siam Discovery Plaza (6 pm –
7:30 pm)
April 26: PATA Annual Summit - Centara Grand Hotel (9 am - 8 pm)
June 10: Blogger Match-up – lebua Hotel at State Tower (10:30 am – 4:30 pm)
June 10: DIA Council Meeting (by invitation) - PATA HQ
June 10: DIA Awards - Bed Supperclub (8 pm – 10 pm)
DIA Awards VIP Reception (by invitation) – Bed Supperclub (7pm – 8 pm)
June 11: Speak-Out Asia – lebua Hotel at State Tower (10 pm – 5 pm)
June 11: The Last Byte - (by TDN.asia) - TBD
June 12: China Boot Camp - (10:30 am – 4:30pm)
June 12: Bangkok Blogger Tour (by Bangkok 101) – for accredited bloggers
June 13-16: Isaan Influencer Trip (by Smiling Albino / TAT) - for accredited bloggers
For more information on how to get engaged in Digital Innovation Asia from April 23-24
and June 10-12 in Bangkok, please visit www.DigitalInnovationAsia.com, like us on
Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DIAsiaTourism, download our brochures at

4. http://www.slideshare.net/DIAsiatourism, and follow-us on Twitter @DIAsiaTourism
(hashtag #DIAsiaTourism). Tickets are limited, and a PATA member rate (PATA-DIA-
2013), as well as a package prize with the PATA Annual Summit exists. Register at
http://DIAsiatourism.eventbrite.com/. Please visit our DIA Awards partner
TravelDailyNews.Asia to submit your nominations at http://goo.gl/rRVwS. More
information about the PATA Annual Summit on April 25-27 at the Centara Grand
Bangkok can be found at www.PATA.org.
- ENDS -
About Digital Innovation Asia (DIA)
Digital Innovation Asia (DIA) is a new initiative promoting excellence and knowledge
sharing when it comes to leveraging digital, social, and mobile in the travel and tourism
industry to promote the complete Asian Visitor Economy. Aligned with the Pacific Asia
Travel Association (PATA), it includes a new platform www.DigitalInnovationAsia.com,
the Digital Innovation Asia Council, the Digital Innovation Asia Awards, Speak-Out Asia,
Blogger-Match Up, Digital Aid Asia, China Boot Camp, the Digital Innovation Asia
Challenge, and year-round program of workshops and seminars. Get inspired and
engaged at: www.DigitalInnovationAsia - Facebook: DIAsiaTourism – Twitter:
@DIAsiaTourism (hashtag #DIAsiaTourism) - LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/ZPKhpB - Register
at http://DIAsiatourism.eventbrite.com/. Please visit our DIA Awards partner
TravelDailyNews.Asia to submit your nominations at http://goo.gl/rRVwS
About Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
Since its foundation in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a not-for profit
membership association, has achieved international acclaim by acting as a catalyst for
the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific
region.
The Association provides aligned advocacy, leadership and events to its members,
comprising 90 government, state and city tourism bodies, nearly 30 international airlines,
airports and cruise lines, 57 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry
companies in Asia Pacific and beyond.
Thousands of travel professionals belong to dozens of local PATA chapters worldwide.
The chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. PATA's
‘Next Generation' mPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights
from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members' mobile devices anywhere in
the world. PATA's headquarters is in Bangkok.
Media Contacts:
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
Ms. Parita Niemwongse
E-mail: communications@PATA.org
Web: www.pata.org
Digital Innovation Asia (DIA)
Ms. Kwang Nuchpoom
E-Mail: info@digitalinnovationasia.com
Web: www.DigitalInnovationAsia.com