Influence of Social Media on Tourist Destination Selection Destination (Research Paper Sample)

Influence of Social Media on Tourist Destination selection destination
Date
Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc93564296 \h 31.Tourist destination choice PAGEREF _Toc93564297 \h 42.How social media has influenced tourist destination selection PAGEREF _Toc93564298 \h 53.Social media platforms are used to facilitate tourist destination selection. PAGEREF _Toc93564299 \h 83.1 Facebook PAGEREF _Toc93564300 \h 93.2 Blogs PAGEREF _Toc93564301 \h 103.3 Instagram PAGEREF _Toc93564302 \h 104.Importance of social media platforms or sites PAGEREF _Toc93564303 \h 115.Adverse effects on social media platforms. PAGEREF _Toc93564304 \h 126.Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc93564305 \h 137.Reference PAGEREF _Toc93564306 \h 14
Introduction
Development and fast growth of the internet and technology have gradually spread widely over the universe, improving different infrastructures, organizations, institutions, and more significantly in the tourism industry sector. There are more than 4.39 billion individuals who use the internet today. Technology development has played a significant role in the recent increase in promoting through social media. The internet user's behavior has changed dramatically due to the internet. Additionally, websites used to be primarily personal, static and published by the website owner in such a way that only permitted visitors to access the online content Matthews, P., & Greenspan, S. (2020)..
Moreover, through the gradual change of the internet and technology, most individuals have adopted the tendency to make their own decisions. Over 3.2 billion individuals use social media platforms on their devices such as laptops, phones, and computers. The introduction of technology and the internet has made it easier for tourists to decide on the place of a visit, this by accessing and gathering all the information on the location to visit through the internet. Additionally, accurate information about a chosen location/destination may boost travelers' confidence throughout the choice-making process, allowing them to make the best selection possible and so improve the quality of the trip Pearce, D. G. (1981). .
Over the past years, much research has been made concerning the evolution of technology and social media. The tourism industry has gradually maximized the use of the skills and knowledge existing by implanting the new technology that has been invented in order to innovate in the industry. Additionally, most travelers have appreciated the introduction and innovation of technology on social media since they have access to information and more opportunities that were just available through intermediaries' help in the previous years. Moreover, this has changed most of the tourist behavior and decision-making. Furthermore, through this innovation, it has led to the independence of travelers, gain of experience, sophistication, and more flexible when making arrangements for their trips. Moreover, social media is creating and enhancing communication online channels whose primary purpose is to interact, sharing of content, community-based input, and collaborating, thus enabling the users to subscribe and share their interests on various platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter. From this experience, it has advanced the level of decision-making among the tourist on what choice to make when finding a traveling destination Tuten, T. L. (2020).
Additionally, information such on social media has enabled the tourist to reduce the level of uncertainty since the information needed will be provided by various individuals since they will share their previous experiences on the traveler's destination. Tourists now have greater power over their travel decisions and also influencing tourism-related firms to take new trends into consideration. The tourism sector is of benefit to the community, in that through the industry it has led to the development of some infrastructure, creating job opportunities and skill creating. Moreover, tourism acts as a source of income in individuals who are not learned, those who have the medium skill, and also those who are highly skilled, availability such opportunity improves on the level of economy in-country, On the other hand, the research will focus on how social media has influenced tourist destination selection, also what are the various platforms that social media use in order to influence tourism destination Pearce, D. G. (1981).
1 Tourist destination choice
Decisive elements that influence competition have been considered the choice of destination for travelers. This judgment is based on four ways are 1 external (family, reference groups, and culture2. internal values, attitude, lifecycle, and risk minimization). 3. Travel experience ( post buying, mood, and feelings). 4. nature of the trip ( size, holiday, and duration). The tourist destination is motivated by access to attractions and drive. Furthermore, emotional and internal help tourists in the decision-making process on what goal they should go this is influenced by push motive. Pull motive is influenced by eternal factors that motivate the tourist destination's attraction. These include culture, natural surroundings, and gastronomy. Additionally, travelers' qualities limit associated with playing goal a vital part in decision-making when it comes to selecting or rejecting places. Restrictions vary by destination type, which is tied to the destination than to the visitor. Choice of destination is also facilitated by the financial; this is measured in terms of traveling distance and the means of transport to be used.
Two approaches facilitate the choice of travelers' destination: behavior method and choice set system. Behavior approach through this kind of approach assists travelers to have a variety of options of better destination that will satisfy their needs. Moreover, it offers tourists more information about the goal to create more chances for tourists to choose their own. The significant influence for this approach is to notify the various stages of the decision in identifying external and internal factors that influence choice.
Choice-set in this approach focuses on the psycho-character on how the consumer begins to have intention, good judgment, and commitment before making the decision. Internal variables are represented by tourists, while the market mix means external. Though these approaches have assisted the tourist in making the best decision whenever they need to travel during their holidays. Moreover, the decision-making process has not only been influenced by individuals but also through social media, which have played and taken part in the process by providing more information on different places
2 How social media has influenced tourist destination selection
Over the past years, information and communication growth and innovation have taken place, maximizing the use of social media influencing consumers' character and decision-making, mostly in buying, traveling plans, and purchasing trips goods and services. Tourist characters have been gradually changed by the use of social media and technology. According to Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) suggest that social media is an internet-based application formed by different groups that create a foundation in technology and ideas of the internet that facilitate and allows innovation and generation content exchange. According to the study, it is found that utilization of social media is based on different stages when planning a trip. In that, social media is used all along the process of making proper plans of the trip this through gaining of information from best sources. Social media platforms have created room for socializing, collaborating, and sharing information Mayfield, A. (2008). Through the source, tourists find this information more reliable and valuable than professional travel guidance, which is why travelers are increasing since they are interested in checking out fellow travelers' comments and evaluations.
Furthermore, through the study, it is noted that social media can provide both negative and positive information, which can affect the tourism sector and also affect the young generation. Moreover, the tourist sector has been approved by social media since it offers a unique opportunity to reach a large number of individuals, assess the market's reaction to their product and service, and utilize this knowledge to grow their job Hudson, S., & Thal, K. (2013). By the use of this knowledge, the tourism sector has been able to modify its way of approaching tourists in order to meet their satisfaction whenever they are visited.
Social media by the tourism industry has led to its division in five ways: social sharing, travel research, consumer service enhancement, travel agency interaction, and change in traveler's behavior Hudson, S., & Thal, K. (2013). Moreover, leisure travelers use social networking platforms to plan their vacations and choose their destinations. The research suggests that the primary key role of social media is to provide a solution when making decisions; nevertheless, social media aids the tourist in every step to the final step of the decision. Through this, a better choice of destination will have been found. There are more robust platforms for the social web; this includes photo sharing, room chats, video sharing, social networking, podcasts, and widgets.
Moreover, for decision-making to be effective using social media platforms, factors such as reliability, trust, worth, and dependency are more critical. The research considers travel products to be more perishable, intangible, and variable. Moreover, this makes it difficult to make proper choices or evaluate what product to purchase. Mak...