TripAdvisor has introduced a new section to its website, encouraging tourists to rate airports around the world just as they would hotels, attractions and restaurants. Travellers can now score experiences such as shopping, cafes and restaurants, placing airports under scrutiny while encouraging a push for better customer service and hospitality. We can only hope London airports will follow in Singapore’s footsteps (currently voted in as the top airport in the world) and install orchid gardens, swimming pools and a cinema!
Instagram 7.0 was introduced this week with new features that are set to change the way we travel. Social media fanatics are now able to locate pictures uploaded onto the platform by searching for a specific location, rather than just relying on hashtags. Travellers can now get a glimpse of global locations before they visit. Similar to twitter, the updated Instagram displays both ‘trending hashtags’ and ‘trending places’ to keep users up to date on the hottest destinations across the globe. If that isn’t enough, the app is also introducing a ‘collections’ hub where Instagram will gather users’ best photos of specific locations – ‘Glimmering Islands’ and ‘Ancient Ruins’ are among a few of the first collections.
Holiday snapshots, especially those documenting famous landmarks and sites are a key part of any holiday. Selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower or a group shot at the London Eye might be endangered as a new EU proposal aims to bring in copyright laws which protect individual architects or artists in the UK. While these laws are largely commercially focussed, holidaymakers uploading pictures to Facebook and other social media sites might face legal action (if the laws are implemented) as these sites generate revenue. France, Belgium and Italy, currently have similar laws in place, but we can only hope that our holiday snaps stay safe for now.
