Community: The State of travel Blogging in Asia

2. State of Travel Blogging in Asia
Mariellen Ward, India ~ BreatheDreamGo.com
Maggie Wu, China ~ FlyWithMaggie.com
Jade Johnston, Australia ~ OurOyster.com

3. Breathedreamgo.com

4.  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

5. Overview of Blogging in Asia
The 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.

6.  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

7. 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

8. Contest-driven blogging in India

9. Kerala Blog Express

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

11. 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 materials
6. Foster supportive community among bloggers
Call to action

12. Pay the artist … writer … photographer … blogger …
Call to action

13. Shivya Nath, TheShootingStar.com @Shivya
Anuradha Goyal, Inditales.com @anuradhagoyal
Gaurav Bhatnagar, TheSpunkyTraveler.com
@dspunkytraveler
Amrita Das, TravellingIdesofMarch.com
@Amrita_Dass
Lakshmi Sharath, LakshmiSharath.com
@lakshmisharath
Rachel Jones, Hippie-inHeels.com @hippie_inheels
VJ Sharma, Travelingcamera.com
@photojourney_tc
Ajay Sood, Travelure.in @TravelureAjay
Thanks to Indian bloggers