The Impact of Social Media in Tourism

Abstract

[eng] The following research is based onthe relationship that exists between the tourism industry and social media.Social media is currently playingan important role in the tourism sector,especially with the arrival of the Internet,simultaneouslyaffectingconsumers and suppliers.In the first part,the evolution of tourism,its historyandtourism in the present with recent figures,is explained. Afterwards, the second part focuses on the definition and the evolution of social mediaexplaining the most important platforms. Eventually,therelationshipbetweensocial media and tourism,and theexistingimportant impactsthat affect and change somehowthe way demand and supplybehaveare elucidated.The main findings of thedissertationare inthefirst placeto state the important changes that the tourism sector has experiencedthroughout history.However, the biggest impact that the tourism industry above anything else has been facingis the Internet, related with the second conclusion, which is to give evidence of thesignificance of online promotiontoolsthanks tosocial medialikethe online platforms,which facilitate the interaction between consumers and suppliers reinforcing thecurrent people’sdesire for travelling and consuming.