UNWTO Discusses Technology & Social Media as Tool for Competitive Tourism

Technology and social media are becoming critically important tools for successful international tourism. This has been recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the Minister of Tourism in Costa Rica, who organized a Technical Seminar on Tourism and New Technologies.

Delegates came from 22 countries – including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and the Bahamas – and the conference discussed how tourism has been influenced by the latest technological breakthroughs, as well as the opportunities that lie ahead.

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Director of the e-Tourism Lab at Bournemouth University (BU), chaired the seminar, which took place in Costa Rica. A tourism marketing expert who specializes in e-tourism and technology, he chaired panels looking at the internet, social media and mobile marketing in relation to tourism.

He also trained delegates – who included 12 tourism ministers - on how to use technology and social media to increase the competitiveness of their tourism industry. Professor Buhalis added that social media is reversing tourism marketing strategies, with consumers becoming advocates and ambassadors for products around the world.

He believes that mobile technologies can make interaction between organizations and consumers dynamic and agile – revolutionizing engagement and economic benefits. Other speakers at the seminar included executives from Google, Trip Advisor and Expedia Latin America.