The effects of social media on tourism

Shahul Hameed Shaik Dawood

Services and tools

• Blogs - Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr

• Content Sharing - YouTube, Flickr, Instagram

• Social Networks - MySpace, Facebook, Google+

• Professional Networks – LinkedIn

• Microblogging & Presence – Twitter

• Timely, up to date

• Find your niche audience

• Anyone can publish anything

• Personal

• Be prepared for criticism

Blogs

The New Web Presence

• Identify your community

• Talk

• Take part

• Use many spaces online

• One to one relationships

• Create a “Social Media Cocktail”

People will...

• Find your brand or product without having to search (very hard)

• Interact with you in their social networks (without having to leave)

• Offer feedback and advice & help to improve a product, a venue, a destination even feel like they know the ‘provider’ better(and trust you more)

• Promote you (without you paying them)

Flickr

Facebook

TwitterTwitter

Social Media and the Tourism Industry Statistics

Travel and tourism marketing isn't the one-sided , Today's travelers are relying more on word of mouth. In

response, the tourism and hospitality industry is turning to social media to promote its services and to engage

customers in a more personal way.

Almost two-thirds of travel companies plan to increase their social media marketing budgets.

Here's why

• 40% of online travelers visit social networking sites to influence destination selection

• 87% said reviews impacted hotel choice

• 84% said reviews impacted method of travel

• 78% said reviews impacted choice of dining

• 70% of consumers trust online recommendations while only 14% trust advertisements

• 50% of blog readers read travel blogs

• 57% of travel-related website visitors read traveler-written reviews

• 97% of readers thought those reviews were accurate

• 45% of the travel and tourism industry views social media as a major opportunity over the next five years.

Facebook has the greatest influence over 25-34 year-old's holiday choices

Do’s…

• Regular updates

• New content

• Patience to listen to any sort of comments

• If there is a contest make sure the prizes are delivered and the winners are

published on the page

• Create a community or group and add people of common interest

• Enable discussions

Don’ts…

• Never get emotional

• Never take a comment personally

• Don’t keep your page stagnant for s long time

• Never force people to like your page or follow you

• Never follow people just for the sake of following

• Don’t have errors while writing on the wall or tweeting

• Promote with all the positives you have , don’t highlight others negatives to prove you are better

Thank you