Do well in 'developing UK tourist destinations'

AC 2.1 - Explain factors influencing tourist decision making

Social media

Social networking has a great influence on a tourist’s decision-making and has seen a massive growth in recent years. This is because social networking is a way of using a computer to talk to other people, express opinions, exchange pictures, whatever you want to do.

Activity 1

Which of the following social network sites do you use or are familiar with?

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Flickr
  • Google +

For each of the social media networks you use or are familiar with describe why you use it.

If there are some social media networks that you are unfamiliar with, use the Internet to find out more information about them.

Activity 2

Read the information below

  1. This is one of the fastest-growing networks. You follow people you know or in whom you’re interested, they follow you, you exchange brief text-only messages. If you say something interesting, one of your followers might pass it on, which means repeating it and saying who said it. So, some of their followers might start to follow you too, and that’s how you meet new people. It’s great for asking quick questions and would be very useful in influencing a tourist’s choice.
  2. You get a page on the web and can use this for longer bits and pieces. You can upload pictures, videos, play games, whatever you want to do. There are areas for private messages and for more open discussions. This can really be your place on the internet if you want it to be. It can be very useful in helping and influencing a tourist to make final decisions.
  3. This is more of a social media network for business. This is a network for contacting and keeping in touch with work colleagues. You may only contact people who are a friend of a friend, or a friend of a friend of a friend, and so forth.
  4. There’s less scope for socialising here, but you can upload and share any pictures you want others to see. You can also download and sometimes use pictures on websites, as many people put them up with few copyright restrictions.
  5. It's still early days as a competitor to the two major social media networks. This network lets you put all your acquaintances in separate "circles", so you can post something to your best friends that you might not want sent to your work colleagues.

Can you identify the social media networks being described above? They will be one of the following:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook 
  • Linkedin 
  • Flickr
  • Google +

Activity 3

Explain how a UK tourism destination could use social media to attract more visitors.