It is widely
accepted that there is a revolutionary change occurring now online- as we move into the new world
of Web 2.0. While the first decade of online development was devoted to amassing and categorizing
content online, the next generation of development will be devoted to making this content function
for businesses and their clients.
In tourism terms the web has become a business environment a platform upon which information
is used to drive billions of dollars in international revenue. In addition, the ability to now
easily share and publish content outside of the limits of a website has meant that online is fast
becoming a new dominant form of broadcast media, through the proliferation of
User Generated Content (UGC)- blogs and vlogs- and the rise
of powerful
social networks and sites such as
iTunes, Youtube, Myspace and
Facebook. A newly emergent term is “social networking”- the
means by which individuals form groups and share their experiences, information and resources
online.
This information is tailored to the users individual interests and needs and can be accessed,
consumed and shared through a variety of media, personal computers, online TV, handheld devices,
PDAs and cellphones. This combination of highly personalized media offering direct sales is
creating an environment in which the web is a tool for everyday use that can deliver a world of
choice that can be rapidly streamlined to give the individual exactly what they are looking for,
available immediately and accessible online.
The implications for tourism are of major importance. Travel experiences have become one of
the most popular subjects for blogs, and for new media as travel videos and photos are shared
through social networks. This consumer-generated content is widely regarded as more credible,
un-biased and popular than content produced by tourism suppliers or Destination websites.
Our conferences and training look at the new media and examine the challenges and opportunity
it presents for African tourism. We give examples of how these networks can be engaged and consumer
generated content can be used as a marketing tool.
Need to know more? If you’d like our assistance-
Contact us.
