RIP the holiday postcard

Tuesday, 23 Apr, 2013 0

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Once the most popular form of communication whilst on foreign shores, the postcard has been replaced by social networks.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.”

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Ian Jarrett

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