Social Media Win in #GoThailandGoAsean Media Fam Trip

AEC News Today managing editor John Le Fevre was recently awarded 1st runner-up in a competition held late last year between media representatives participating in a Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) familiarisation trip (fam trip) to the Thailand seaside city of Hua Hin.

The competition pitched the social media reach of the participants as they explored Thailand’s royal seaside city and the surrounding area as part of a #GoThailandGoAsean promotion, which also sought entries from ordinary citizens who had visited Thailand.

The promotion redefined Asean (Association of Southeast Asia Nations) by Thailand’s tourism marketing czars as standing for ‘Adventure, Spa and health, Elegant culture, Amazing food, and Nature & beach’ (Asean).

The social media reach of the media representatives across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest were tracked as part of the TAT’s increased focus on younger generation Asean travellers.

AEC News Today managing editor with Pham Thi Huong from the Bangkok bureau of Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Supplied

At the time Mr Le Fevre was deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Subregion editor for the now defunct Singapore-based The Establishment Post. In addition to a hand-painted, enamel-glazed trophy, Mr Le Fevre received a prize cheque of Bt 20,000 (about US$ 575).

In accordance with AEC News Todays‘ code of conduct and that of his former employer, East Wing Holdings, as well as professional journalism ethics, the prize money was forwarded to Mr Le Fevre’s former employer, who donated the money to the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME), a registered Singapore charity dedicated to upholding the rights of migrant workers in Singapore, including victims of human trafficking and forced labour.

First place, comprising a trophy plate and Bt30,000 ($862), was won by Poeti Fatima & Anggun Adi from Indonesia’s highly successful shoppingmagz, while Pham Thi Huong from the Bangkok bureau of Vietnam News Agency (VNA) was second runner-up with a hand-painted trophy plate and prize of Bt10,000 ($287).

A version of the story written by Mr Le Fevre can be found here: Asean Media #GoThailandGoAsean