State of Travel Blogging in Asia

Mariellen Ward, India ~ BreatheDreamGo.com

Maggie Wu, China ~ FlyWithMaggie.com

Jade Johnston, Australia ~ OurOyster.com

Breathedreamgo.com

Started travelling in India 10 years ago, and blogging on Travelblog.org Launched Breathedreamgo 6 years ago as an India-focused, female solo travel blog Have spent more than 2 years in country Breathedreamgo is one of the leading travel blogs about India Now live in Delhi in winter, and Canada in summer, travel in both countries extensively

Breathedreamgo and INDIA

Overview of Blogging in AsiaThe only constant is diversity.

India is home to thousands of bloggers and a world-renown high-tech industry.

Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have vibrant, thriving blogospheres.

New Zealand and Australia are part of European, Western blogosphere

China’s scene is completely unique.

Mariellen will present challenges & opportunities for bloggers in India, plus a call to action.

Jade will present challenges & opportunities for bloggers in Australia / NZ, plus a call to action.

Maggie will present challenges & opportunities for bloggers in China, plus a call to action.

Followed by questions, answers, sharing ideas.

Challenges and Opportunities

1. Breaking out of the amateur pool, driven by events and contests. Achieving professionalism in terms of reputation and payment.

2. Countering India’s worldwide reputation as an unsafe place for travellers, especially female travellers.

3. Finding encouragement, training, incentives and a community for creating top quality, professional work.

4. Responsible tourism / sustainability concepts in country of 1.2 billion

Challenges in India

Contest-driven blogging in India

Kerala Blog Express

1. Assignments, projects, books, etc., based on core skill (eg writing, photography). Huge media in India.2. Sponsored content3. Fam trips with best tourism boards: Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan4. International fam trips5. Hone niche, improve quality, reach out and ask for what you’re worth

Opportunities

1. Recognize your worth as a skilled creator, and the value of reaching Indian travellers

2. Say “no” to working for free, especially providing content to a for-profit brand, company; help educate the industry

3. Counteract the reputation of India as unsafe with stories, videos, personal testimony

4. Choose to create quality content rather than look for a quick buck, a contest entry, a viral post

5. Act professional, deliver promised materials6. Foster supportive community among bloggers

Call to action

Pay the artist … writer … photographer … blogger …

Call to action

Shivya Nath, TheShootingStar.com @ShivyaAnuradha Goyal, Inditales.com @anuradhagoyalGaurav Bhatnagar, TheSpunkyTraveler.com @dspunkytravelerAmrita Das, TravellingIdesofMarch.com @Amrita_DassLakshmi Sharath, LakshmiSharath.com @lakshmisharathRachel Jones, Hippie-inHeels.com @hippie_inheelsVJ Sharma, Travelingcamera.com @photojourney_tcAjay Sood, Travelure.in @TravelureAjay

Thanks to Indian bloggers