Internet role to choose tourist distanation

Internet, a little more than last year, plays a major role at every stage of the planning process. Depending on the market, at least 74% of surveyed travelers visited at least one website at the time of selection of the destination. When it comes time to compare offers, the proportion rises to 86%. Online bookings are made by at least 73% of them and 83% of British travelers. Sharing experiences and web-travel comments is growing, especially among German travelers, who are 60% having done so in 2011.

The tools on the Web, especially interactive maps, reviews of the online agency sites, professional images and virtual tours, photos shared by travelers and the reviews posted online travel professionals practice influencing much of potential visitors (see chart 4).
Finally, the recommendations of relatives and friends arrive at the forefront of offline sources of information used for selecting a destination. Printed publications, such as travel guides, articles and brochures, are still part of the consulted media (between 13% and 23% of respondents, depending on market). Hence the importance of developing a multi-faceted marketing strategy so composed to shine, to stand out and above all to increase interest in the destination.





source:

- PhoCusWright Inc. "PhoCusWright's Destination Unknown: How US and European Travelers Decide Where to Go 2011", November 2011.