United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
RIP the holiday postcard
Social media is now the most popular way for travellers to communicate with friends and family back home, while only 11% now send a postcard when they go on holiday, reveals a survey by global travel search site Skyscanner.
Once the most popular form of communication whilst on foreign shores, the postcard has been replaced by social networks.
With more than one billion monthly active users, Facebook is now the most popular way to update those at home (58%), with almost four out of five people admitting to logging on and updating statuses every couple of days and 17% checking their news feeds at least every couple of hours.
Whilst 60% of international travellers stay in touch by sending text messages, 5% did admit to not making any effort to contact those at home, preferring to relax and unwind, taking a complete break from their everyday life.
The survey also revealed that travel agent brochures may also be a thing of the past, with 88% of travellers no longer using brochures for holiday inspiration.
Instead, travellers turn to travel company websites (17%) and social media sites (21%), even more so than personal recommendations from friends (14%).
Other popular sources of inspiration include newspapers and magazines, where more than one in 10 still turn to their trusted read to help them choose their holiday destination.
Skyscanner’s Victoria Bailie said: “The internet has changed everything, not only the way we communicate but also the way we look for inspiration.
“Gone are the days of trawling through endless pages of travel agent brochures, these days most of us surf the net or turn to our favourite newspaper.”
Ian Jarrett
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel