| Abstract: Facebook is a social network for connecting people with those around them – friends, family, coworkers, or simply others with similar interests. Among the varied social media platforms, Facebook deserves a special mention with regard to promotion of a tourism destination. Facebook offers travel brands the ability to identify prospective travelers, communicate directly with users, engage with advocates and create branded experiences through advertisements and custom developed Facebook applications. Facebook will also serve as a consumer market research tool for destinations to gather
user insights, measure content engagement and crowd source ideas before bringing them to market. However, the biggest obstacle to promoting a destination on Facebook is budgeting and staffing. By sharing travel experiences on Facebook consumers are inspiring visitation through textual, photographic and video word-of-mouth recommendations.This article aims at highlighting how Facebook is used as a tool for promoting a tourism destination, strategies that can be effectively used, challenges and some success stories across the globe. |
| References: [1] Boyd, D., & Ellison, N. (2008). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 210–230.
[2] Buhalis, D., & Law, R. (2008). Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the internet – the state of eTourism research. Tourism Management, 29, 607–623.
[3] Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, 2013
[4] Facebook.com (2011). Statistics.Retrieved July 2011, from https://www. facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics
[5] Forrester, Forrester Research Interactive Marketing Forecast By Industry,2012 to 2017 (US).
[6] Gretzel, U. (2006). Consumer generated content – trends and implications for branding. E-review of Tourism Research, 9–11.
[7] Gretzel, U., Yuan, Y., & Fesenmaier, D. (2000). Preparing for the new economadvertising strategies and change in destination marketing organizations. Journal of Travel Research, 149–156.
[8] MMGY Global /Harrison Group(2013), Portrait of American Travelers
[9] Rand, M. (2006). Online travel gets personal. Retrieved January 4, 2011, from http://www.forbes.com/2006/02/17/travelocityorbitz- tripadvisor-in_mr_bow0217_inl.html
[10] Senecal, S., & Nantel, J. (2004). The influence of online product recommendations on consumers’ online choices. Journal of Retailing, 159–169.
[11] Facebook Stories, 2012,Sharing Life’s Biggest Moments.
[12] White, N., & White, P. (2007). Home and away: Tourists in a connected world. Annals of Tourism Research, 88–104.
[13] Why Use Social Media For Tourism Marketing? http://www.marketingtourguide.com/public/192.cfm?sd=2 Accessed on March 15, 2014. |
Author Rights 
