New social media sites being used by international travellers
Posted on Friday 11 May 2012
in Fiji, India, Israel
Travellers are sharing where they journey to with others more than ever, as social media websites continue to evolve and offer more features. Many users will post pictures, tips and blog articles while they are on the road instantly though their smartphones, tablet and computers. Social media businesses are working together with travel organisations to better cater to the interests of those taking holidays, expanding the various aspects of communities online who compare their experiences to connect in new ways.
Pinterest takes travel by storm
For instance, Pinterest is website that allows users to "pin" pictures and create themed pages relating to specific interests. The site has been used to collect recipes, fashion inspiration and crafting ideas, but the travel industry has quickly caught on and finding ways to use the new outlet to connect with potential visitors. According to The Los Angeles Times, companies like the Travel Channel, official tourism offices and Travel & Leisure magazine have all created pages featuring their advice on the best things to see and do while in new locales. Some will collect general pages that include popular Asian cuisine, or gather together reviews of the most innovative applications for travel and tourism.
Indian travellers can use Pinterest to create their own boards and plan a getaway. If tourists want to compare restaurant options before embarking on their flights to Dublin or booking their Fiji holiday packages, they can visit websites and pin pictures of popular dishes to map out a culinary itinerary. Other lists for hotels, attractions and more can be shared with fellow travel companions so decisions can easily be made as a group.
Other top travel-savvy websites for planning holidays
Pinterest may be one of the freshest websites on the travel scene, but there are plenty of other options for those who wish to use social media for planning and sharing their holidays. Some are focused on travel input, while others invite users to explore the features in a broader sense for entertainment and information.
Trippy is a website that can be used by tourists worldwide who want to organise the ideal getaway, whether it be short breaks in their home country to an exotic luxury travel excursion abroad. According to Business Insider, this idea for the website is supported by several celebrities, including musician Jason Mraz, actress Soleil Moon Frye and TV personality Andrew Zimmern. These stars and others have been displaying their travel pictures and images taken by others to compile categories of information, similar to Pinterest. Users may make categories such as cuisine, favourite cities and places they wish to go to in the future to start a dialogue with other people online about their love of travel.
Another site that tourists are using for their holiday plans is Gogobot. Instead of finding out travel tips and advice from celebrities, this platform connects people's Facebook or Foursquare friends to find out who has been where so that recommendations come from direct and personal contacts. Those who have a Gogobot profile can upload their pictures of a holiday and others may bookmark the image for future reference.
"Almost any place you want to go, you probably know someone who’s been there," said Founder Travis Katz.
Travellers venturing to new destinations from India can use websites like Pinterest before they head out on their holiday to plan the trip. This way, they can optimise the time spent vacationing and also have an outlet to share their memories upon their return.
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