The impact of social networks on the travel habits of foreign users

Microblogging marketing, tourism marketing, social marketing, the growing popularity of smart phones has indirectly driven the rapid development of social media, now, no matter when and where, users can easily and quickly keep in touch and get the latest information. Mobile apps also involve almost every aspect of our lives, and these are changing the traditional tourism industry.

A postcard has been sent to every tourist destination, and the habit is being quickly disrupted by social media, becoming increasingly rare. Data statistics show that the current social network has become the best way for travelers to stay in touch and express their love for their friends and family, with more than 3/4 of visitors around the world opting to share their journeys with their friends and family through social networks, and only about 19% of tourists will continue to choose to send postcards to the traditional way of greeting.

At home, Weibo has become one of the most popular social networks. According to the latest data released by Sina February 20, 2013: As at the end of December 2012, the number of Sina Weibo registered users has exceeded 500 million, an increase of 74%, the number of active users reached 46.2 million. In just a few years, social networks have beaten postcards as the first choice for travellers to enjoy a happy journey, and how do social networks affect people's travel habits abroad?

Most of the foreign tourists in the development of travel plans, the most important is not the destination, but the people whom they know have been to the destination, which is very popular on Facebook. Word-of-mouth from the Friends community may be more trustworthy, good evaluation will easily arouse people's desire to travel. Some 52% of Facebook users say their friends are sharing vacation photos at a certain destination, prompting them to travel to and book tourism products, prompting a rapid new change in foreign tourism, according to data reports.

The fact that Australia's Queensland Tourism Bureau cleverly used social media to publicize Australia in the name of "the best work in the world" has attracted worldwide attention and succeeded in attracting the attention of the world's people to Australia. The Australian Tourism Board then launched a "virtual route trip" that allows users to select a region of their choice in Australia as a "virtual route" destination, where participants can get a fixed budget and petrol, or even a free choice of transportation to earn points. Additional points can be obtained if participants can successfully send postcards to relatives and friends during the trip. During the trip, you can also click on the relevant links, from "Australian travel experts" to obtain details, and this information is transferred to the Australian Tourism Bureau under the local Cooperative travel agency, so that the tourism bureau and travel agencies for mutual benefit. Similarly, the popularity of the event was unexpected.

Similar social media outreach to tourism has also indirectly inspired the hospitality industry, and most hotels have recognized the benefits of implementing social media strategies. These hotels that use social media realize that the content that users create is very important, and it can have a strong impact on whether other users choose to subscribe. In general, foreign visitors will get the latest information and resources from related platforms such as Trip Advisor,yapta and travel muse before booking a hotel, and study other travellers ' feedback on hotel services and facilities. According to Google's survey, about 33% of viewers will change their planned travel plans because of the ratings they already have. Social media sites not only bring in a lot of direct bookings, but also promote the interaction between brands and customers.

And the inevitable crisis PR problems in the tourism industry can also be "cleverly resolved" by using social media. For example, passengers stranded at the airport can use social platforms to send timely information to relatives and friends to find alternative solutions, and even after the use of phrases such as "Send Me Home" and "carpool" as the main labels, other travellers will come together to seek a way home. Airlines also have the ability to use social media to send up-to-the-minute updates to visitors and to guide travellers through the temporary crisis.

At present, social media is a very important communication tool in our life. The likelihood that travellers can travel from a "favorite" page of their friends is already more than 80% more likely than they would have made a reservation through a traditional advertisement. By 2016, social media is expected to be the premier channel for travel bookings and income for 50% of the world's tourism industry.

With the development of digital technology, the boundary between reality and virtual space is becoming more and more blurred, people can experience exotic customs and travel pleasure, even experience another completely different way of life.