The future of social media and tourism

Hello everybody,

Today I want to have a discussion on social media and tourism and its future. On my blog I have investigated for 6 tourist attractions their social media usage. However, will social media last longer? And why?

Well for suppliers it may be clear, it’s just a very quick way to promote yourself and doesn’t cost a lot of money. Considering the consumer side, there have been huge changes due to Web 2.0 as I have mentioned earlier. There has been done more research that investigates the intention to use social media as a tourist and their conclusion is crystal clear. Sharing photos and videos, blogging, using podcasts and reviewing and rating to enhance the touristic experience is becoming normal and is defined as Travel 2.0. ¹ The main reason for using social media is the benefits such as functional, psychological and hedonic, and social, that you perceive when using social media. Suppliers should listen to the consumers to in cooperate their ideas and to fulfil their needs. This will in order increase the tourists’ utility. Similarly, suppliers can enhance the perceived social benefits by offering interconnectivity, by participating in the conversation and managing fans and followers. Additionally, they should give the consumers possibility to use in social media. Additionally, the costs of using social media don’t impact the willingness to use social media. This is an important finding, since this indicates that consumers find the benefits more important than the costs for using social media.

In conclusion, I can say that social media and tourism will continue. It’s clear that consumers and suppliers both benefit from engaging in social media. Therefore, it’s important that suppliers will keep on improving with providing the consumers the things they need and want in order to keep on engaging in social media.

See you the next time,

Melisse

I'm flying on top of the world in South-Africa in Capetown!













Reference:
1. Parra-Lopéz, E., Bulchand-Gidumalb, J., Gutiérrez-Tañoa, D., & Díaz-Armasa, R. (2011). Intentions to use social media in organizing and taking vacation trips. Web 2.0 in Travel and Tourism: Empowering and Changing the Role of Travelers, 27(2), 640-654.