Researchers claim that travel has evolved in reaction to social networking connections and recommendations.
The proliferation of social networking sites looks set to impact the travel sector, as increased numbers of people make use of the sites to create their travel plans. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, social media is replacing recommendations about holiday destinations from experts or strangers with recommendations from online friends and acquaintances.
While the internet has long been a resource for travellers keen to find out more information about flights and hotels, social networking sites offer searchers something they may not find on company-owned sites; Recommendations from friends are seen as more credible to travellers.
Mary Madden, a senior researcher at the Pew Internet and American Life Project in Washington, DC, said: “Social media and travel are a perfect fit, because they both are built around this idea of sharing experiences and storytelling.
“Content – whether that’s a blog post about your favourite restaurant or the story from your latest trip to Greece and photos of that trip – is a form of social currency that you share with other people who frequent your social media space.”
Sites such as Facebook and Twitter rank among those that look set to influence the way that people choose their holidays, with the latter particularly offering benefits to holidaymakers struggling to find essentials such as car rentals abroad. The strict 140 character limit of the microblogging site ensures that information remains concise. Madden explained: “People start to rely on those trusted portals that help sift the cream from the top.
“Otherwise, people would be overwhelmed by information by doing research online.”
