Click, Search, Travel: Understanding Tourist Behaviour in the Digital Age

Abstract

The advent of digital technology has dramatically changed the way people travel, affecting their information searches, itineraries, decisions and experiences shared on social media sites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, to assist prospective travellers. Besides highlighting the impact of digital technologies such as social media, online booking platforms, mobile applications and augmented virtual reality, this chapter also examines various aspects of tourist behaviour in the digital age through recent developments, and relevant case studies. It also provides insights into how tourist destinations and businesses can adjust themselves to meet the shifting demands and patterns of travel. This meticulous overview interconnects “tourist behaviour” and the “digital era” to reveal how the development of mobile and internet-based technology has changed the travel and tourism sector.