The Future of Travel Information
I don’t know about you, but before I book a trip I talk to people I know who may have been there, I try to find out a maximum about my targeted holiday spot on the Internet and yes! I would also check what’s on the shelves at Exclusive Books here in Cape Town, South Africa. There’s nothing like sitting in the garden or on the beach and paging through a real book… then lifting one’s view to the distant horizon and do what I call “… just dream it”.
While the dream may be so spectacular that you never buy that flight ticket… chances are that all the accumulated information gets you excited and you get on that plane to dreamland!
The fact today is, however, that most people search on Google, get to Travel and Tourism related websites and blogs to read reviews and be inspired by other tourists … and then simply book online. It’s just a few mouse-clicks and you’re on the plane.
Therefore, and especially with the explosion of Social Media Marketing through social networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc, it seems the Future of Travel Information is obvious… and this has an impact on the future destiny of Travel Guides… cherished by many, but not by the masses.
The Future of Travel Information
The fact is, that the most relevant and pretty genuine information about places and trips is easily found in form of ‘user-generated content’ on Social Networks. Who needs to ask a Travel expert if there is a possibility to talk to someone living exactly where one wants to go, and this since generations and with a joyful willingness to share and answer questions?
Add to this the speed of the Mobile Web!
Listen to Richard Trillo, author of several African Guide Books, at the eTourism Africa Summit 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa, how he sees the Future of Travel Information and, of course, the traditional travel guide.
ENJOY!
I just discovered a slideshow of his presentation that you can find by clicking on the top photo here.
