YouTube contest offers free weekend in Denmark

Hard on the heels of the other two contests we recently wrote about—one to spotlight the Great Barrier Reef Islands and one to recruit pilots for AirAsia—we recently learned of yet another contest being used for more than just promotional purposes. This time, the contest’s stated purpose is to study how tourists use digital media. The prize? An all-expenses-paid weekend in Denmark. Created by Danish consultancy Seismonaut on behalf of Midtjysk Turisme, the 48 Hours in Denmark contest invites digital natives to submit a YouTube video explaining why they are the best candidate to go. The winner will receive a free trip for two to Aarhus, Denmark, with travel, hotel stay, food and entertainment expenses paid. In exchange, they’ll be expected to blog, Twitter, lifestream, use Flickr and generally put to work whatever technologies they choose to document their travels. More specifically, they’ll be required to take pictures and video clips as well as download Google Toolbar to document how they research the trip ahead of time; then, to blog, Twitter and otherwise document the details of the trip once they’re there. Afterwards, they’ll be asked to blog and review the trip for a little bit longer once they’re home. The site explains: “We want you to tell us how you feel about it all… Do you miss wifi access at an attraction? Need more Google Maps info on a destination? Have a brilliant idea to how an attraction could enhance the experience through digital media? Let us know!” Contestants must be 18 years of age, and the deadline for application is April 20. The winner will be announced April 29. Of course, in addition to providing the region with insight into the habits and expectations of digitally proficient tourists, the 48 Hours in Denmark contest also aims to put an international spotlight on the region in a way that traditional ads can’t. In that way, it’s highly reminiscent of the Great Barrier Reef Islands contest; together, they suggest an emerging new way to promote tourism. Other destinations around the world: How about you? (Related: YouTube contest for eco-minded kids.)