As part of the ongoing collaboration to drive social media development for Silk Road destinations, WTM, Travel Perspective and UNWTO have launched the WTM Social Media Report - Silk Road, which is now available on-line. The report includes comprehensive research focused on social media trends as well as a series of interviews with key experts.

The report includes a series of key facts and figures that will be of benefit to destinations looking to the Silk Road as a source market. For instance, did you know…

• The highest proportion of Twitter users is located along the historic route?
• Two of the top three countries for smartphone ownership are Silk Road Member States?

‘It would be easy to think that the Silk Road- the traditional trade route linking Europe and Asia that brings to mind images of searing central Asian desert cities- and social media are polar opposites. But nothing could be further from the truth.’

Learn more about social media on the Silk Road by clicking here

Additional Information:

• The Social Silk Road at WTM London 2013

Over the past 20 years, the internet has become the most frequently visited source of information for holidaymakers researching and booking a trip. This event, which counted upon the input of bloggers, tourism officials and private sector stakeholders, served to discuss the opportunities and challenges arising in an age of user-generated content and the role of social media in encouraging tourism along the Silk Road. To learn more and to access the presentations, please click here

• UNWTO/WTM Silk Road Bloggers Trip to Armenia

In September 2013, the Republic of Armenia hosted the winners of the Silk Road Bloggers Ch@allenge, an international event designed to enhance the online and social media presence of the Silk Road by engaging top-travel bloggers in a competition to create the best online travel blog on the Silk Road. Officially launched at WTM London 2012, the Silk Road Bloggers Ch@llenge was generously sponsored by the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, who awarded the winners of the challenge, Mr. Jonathan Powell and Ms. Nailah Hayward, with an exciting explorative trip around Armenia. To learn more, please click here