According to the External Affairs Ministry, it is paying attention to strengthening the “public diplomacy” capabilities of Missions abroad and with the support of expatriate Sri Lankan communities seeks to change the negative perceptions about Sri Lanka that had hitherto prevailed.

Consumer brands can be seen as an extension of “soft power” which political scientist Joseph Nye broadly defined as a nation’s ability to attract and persuade rather than coerce. In this respect, India certainly has an advantage over China which does not have strong private sector brands in the consumer space, except perhaps in electronics.

Going forward, vendors will not rely on pricing or hardware specifications for a competitive edge, but rather on their ability to engage in demand-creation programmes, mobilise channels, and articulate a message that their products will provide an unmatched user experience notes the research firm.

The Tourism Ministry will spend RM1.8mil on social media branding to woo young tourists. Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the move was part of the ministry’s transformation programme and would mark the first time that social media was used as a branding tool.

A variety of marketing campaigns were launched in international markets. And ambitious tourism projects were proposed, mostly on the premise that "if you build it they will come", but with little real grounding in proper market analysis and solid business projections, and with an unrealistic view of capital injection.

The forth part of Lim’s plan will be the marketing and branding of the destination itself and a creative look at how electronic media is playing such a key role in travel planning today. Lim feels that it should also be a major part of any marketing effort.

"We must open up our cultural products such as literature, film, music and heritage. Creators can be inspired by exchanging experiences and working together. This is why I call for the creation of a cultural visa", Marietje Schaake, a Dutch liberal MEP

Britons have a "lot to look forward to" next year following the successful "dry run" of the royal wedding in London, David Cameron said. The Prime Minister said both the London Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 would be a "fantastic opportunity" to "show all faces of Britain, both modern and traditional".