Experience Life

Bsc.Tourism and Special Meetings and Events Currently pursuing my Msc. Tourism and Events Management

[tourismcontemporaryissues-blog]

Based on a survey conducted among 28 participants consisting of university students, and tertiary industry workers who use social media and reside in the US, Canada, and The Bahamas. Social media plays a strong role in the influencing travelers decision-making cycle about Barbados. The…

[nixtshai]

Nice post! and interesting data, it really added perspective. something to consider though... although employing a social media marketing strategy is necessary for Barbados to remain competitive and relevant in today’s society, it does not automatically translate to online customers becoming more favorable towards the destination (in my opinion).

Levels of favorability are rather determined by the type of content that is posted, the frequency of these posts and the ability of the marketing agents to form bonds with its customers via social media. Milne and Brown (2013) emphasize that marketers must shy away from explicit commercialism when engaging in social media marketing and understand that generating immediate sales is a secondary role. 

So, there is a right and wrong way of including social media in the marketing strategy, its simply to understand the purpose and measuring the return on invest based on the objectives, implementation and monitoring.

[tourismcontemporaryissues-blog]

Social media plays a critical role in the traveller decision cycle. Using the standard consumer decision-making cycle by Kotler (1991), social media can enhance the experience for travellers.

Need recognition: Travelers recognize the need to travel triggered by internal motives or external...

[nixtshai]

Thanks for breaking it down, nice post and i strongly agree.

Its my assumption that irrespective of the sector, ignoring this social media trend will negatively affect a destination. I think its safe to say that social media has transformed the process of communication and social interaction especially through the creation of many social media sites (e.g. Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Pintrest and Flicklr.

I truly do not believe that Barbados can go any longer disengaging from the social media arena, as their survival is dependent upon the use of such platforms (well... until this trend dies, which i doubt it will based on technological advancements and this generations innovative skills).

[tourismcontemporaryissues-blog]

Social Media in the Restaurant Industry

According to TripAdvisor (2014) Champers is ranked #1 of the 123 Restaurants in Christ Church Parish, receiving a certificate of Excellence in 2014. In areas of food, service, value and atmosphere they have received ratings past 80%. Traditionally customers relied on the business to provide the information,  which they  would selectively put forth. However, now with websites like TripAdvisor and Yelp more people are relying on other customer experiences to assist in the  decision making process.

 Reviews from TripAdvisor (2014)

“great food!, better ambiance!" - 6 helpful votes

“worth the experience" - 29 helpful votes

“fantastic!" - 3 helpful votes

“wonderful evening from Start to Finish" - 4 helpful votes

“what a brilliant setting a place to eat…" - 24 helpful votes

Champers like other restaurants in the hospitality  industry, relies heavily on reviews and recommendations, the social media usage has empowered customers making them a “well-acclaimed critics”. Social media has given consumers the power to spread information to  thousands of people in a matter of seconds via  Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook  and other social sharing platforms. It appears that a publicists no longer  controls the reputation of a restaurant; customers are. Champers Restaurant due to the shift towards social sharing has become more proactive since 2012 in protecting their reputation.

[itskristymorrisposts]

Hey Nicole, I liked reading this post and I also agree that publicists no longer control the reputation of a restaurant and that it falls into the hands of customers. What are some techniques restauranteurs can use via social media to effectively gain more popularity among customers? 

[nixtshai]

Thanks Kristy, 

Peck (2009) gave some good points  for restaurateurs to gain more popularity among customers, mainly focused on branding and interaction.

  Know their audience and the aim of using social media,

 Assign someone specific for updating and monitoring social media websites,

Offer unique information,

Respond to negative feedback accordingly,

Share photos,

Solicit new ideas,

Interact on the websites, and

Use it to track what people are saying about the restaurant

Empowering customers to become ambassadors for the organisation.

[tourismcontemporaryissues-blog]

I have recently completed a research paper on the role of social media on Barbados tourism and I decided to take a look at if hotels on the island were using social media. Not surprisingly, all who I took a look into did in fact have a strong presence on various social media platforms.

Social...

[nixtshai]

hey nice post I agree with your points. I saw Mer ask a question, so in relation to that ...

My topic was more focused on the food and beverage sector, however, i believe some of the recommendations can be transfer to the accommodations sector. I think it is recommended that the hotels begin social media management training, monitoring competitors’ social media strategies and purchase social media management program. This will provide optimal results and ensure that they not surpassed by competitors within the world of social media.       

With regards to social media and marketing, Ramsaran-Fowder (2013) indicated that research showcased that persons use Facebook to socialize rather than purchase with a mere nineteen percent of interviewees stating that they check Facebook advertisements. Swani et al (2013) explained that offering promotions can work to the company’s advantage but are not advocated to be the main strategy within the social media domain. 

Therefore, hotels must prioritize and be strategic when investing in this new age.

[nixtshai]

Social Media in the Restaurant Industry

According to TripAdvisor (2014) Champers is ranked #1 of the 123 Restaurants in Christ Church Parish, receiving a certificate of Excellence in 2014. In areas of food, service, value and atmosphere they have received ratings past 80%. Traditionally customers relied on the business to provide the information,  which they  would selectively put forth. However, now with websites like TripAdvisor and Yelp more people are relying on other customer experiences to assist in the  decision making process.

 Reviews from TripAdvisor (2014)

"great food!, better ambiance!" - 6 helpful votes

"worth the experience" - 29 helpful votes

"fantastic!" - 3 helpful votes

"wonderful evening from Start to Finish" - 4 helpful votes

"what a brilliant setting a place to eat…" - 24 helpful votes

Champers like other restaurants in the hospitality  industry, relies heavily on reviews and recommendations, the social media usage has empowered customers making them a "well-acclaimed critics". Social media has given consumers the power to spread information to  thousands of people in a matter of seconds via  Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook  and other social sharing platforms. It appears that a publicists no longer  controls the reputation of a restaurant; customers are. Champers Restaurant due to the shift towards social sharing has become more proactive since 2012 in protecting their reputation.

[mertourism]

Mass tourism can kill a city – just ask Barcelona’s residents

Ada Colau: We’ve all been a tourist at some point, but citizens of this great city are fighting for a way of life as they are sidelined by the authorities

Barcelona made local news headlines this month because of an initiative by residents called “Let’s Win Back Barcelona”. Local citizens of the city are frustrated by the number of tourists and the problems they are causing in their neighbourhoods. Big businesses have too much control and they are taking away the very thing that attracted people to Barcelona in the first place; the local culture.  Like the article I mentioned the other day on Southern Italy, mass tourism has effected other European cities, such as Barcelona and Venice. This initiative by the locals is a great example of how people can take power in their own hands and try and preserve their culture, heritage, environment, and way of life. The “Let’s Win Back Barcelona” initiative has taken its efforts to politics and has influenced the 2015 local campaign coming up in May.

You can check out this news article from the Guardian for more information on the subject.

[nixtshai]

Risks in Barbados

The world we inhabit is in a constant state of flux and not enough attention is being paid to disaster risk management in Barbados specifically. The Caribbean region is plagued by vulnerabilities. Our economies are heavily dependent on the tourism industry; therefore any negative publicity associated with a badly managed disaster will prove detrimental and affect all sectors. 

The tourism industry lends itself to vulnerabilities with its emphasis on sun, sea and sand. ‘The ongoing demand for a tourism product centered on accommodation close to the high water mark remains a root cause of vulnerability and an impediment to effective DRR in SIDS. (Wright 2013:1)

Maxwell Coastline

Approximately 90% of holiday accommodations in Barbados are located on the coastline.  Wright notes that ‘the tourism industry has an inherent interest in disaster resilience that minimizes risks and losses thus limiting casualties and protecting the integrity of the industry’s reputation.’

Any disaster will adversely affect the development of the country with funds having to be reallocated to deal with the consequences of a disaster when it would be more cost effective to allocate resources to mitigate risks. Becker notes that ‘what cities do not pay now to mitigate disasters, they will pay in lives, physical damage and economic trauma after disasters occur.’

The resources that need to be allocated to disaster risk management must be seen as an investment in our ability to protect our people and industries and should be a primary concern.

The OECD (2003) acknowledges that Governments faced with fiscal constraints may be tempted to reduce spending on maintenance and training of personnel. The impact of this may not be felt in the short term, but can over time lead to a significantly reduced ability to manage risk.

The fact that no major disaster has occurred on our shores in recent times has lulled us into a false sense of security, which will make an eventual impact all the more catastrophic as we are simply not prepared.

[nixtshai]

Cannibal Tours - Dennis O'Rourke's 1988 documentary

[fightsateofmind-deactivated2016]

AMO.

[bestplacesworld]

Best Tumblr blog

[tietjvns]

so I was here today

[breathtakingdestinations]

Rome - Italy (von IceNineJon)

[cornersoftheworld]

Gondola Rides, Venice, Italy | by TOTORORO.RORO

[breathtakingdestinations]

Capri - italy (von fabiogis50)

[nixtshai]

Mass Tourism vs. Alternative Tourism... is any better than the other?

The reading in class this week was:

Tour Operators and Alternative Tourism in Italy - Exploiting niche markets to increase internal competitiveness

  The articles destination of focus was South Italy

 A beach resort in South Italy

A destination whose tourist product offering is on its maturity phase of its life cycle which has exposed them to a number of threats due to increasing foreign  competitors. Competitors which are seeking opportunities based on strength in prices ( Greece, Turkey & Crotia) increased quality standards ( Spain & France) & accessibility ( Caribbean and Red Sea which offers the same Sun, Sea and Sand). Based on the article these strength of the competitors are weaknesses of South Italy causes threats to their economic stability having them weight options. Mass Tourism versus Alternative Tourism;

          "the overall economic benefits of the mass tour operator are higher than those of the alternative tour operator, but the total benefits and positive impact of alternative tourism are far greater than the cost of the destination"

  Museums of Sicily and Southern Italy contain some of the best-preserved monuments ever created by the ancient Greeks. 

South Italy is a destination filled with extensive potential such as;

1. Highly appealing heritage

2. Highly attractive Natural & environmental  resources

3. Weather that can foster deseasonailation process of tourist flows

4. Link between agribusiness and rural tourism

5. The good infrastructure level of the coast areas

However, there was a term used in the article that struck some concern ..."Exploitation" to be exact. According to Trunfio, (2006) Tour operators are primarily concerned with their own survival and possible growth. In fact, the destination image is indirectly affected by the tour operator’s promotional activities, concentrated more on their own brand image rather than on that of the destination.

Question is: What will tour operators sell to tourist if the product is exploited causing depletion beyond rejuvenation?

These tour operators generate tourist concentration through economies of scale, stimulating rapid and irrational development without any consideration for the environment or any chance for local people to exercise influence over the pace of development (Coccossis and Nijkamp, 1995).  

I have come to realize that exploitation of resources is inevitable in tourism, as is the pursuit of profits. What matters is the distribution of economic benefits on a more beneficial basis. The self-interest of all stakeholders (particularly the tour operators and the government in relation to policies) may hinder the long term development of the Southern Italian tourism industry.

How to move forward?

Southern Italy can only reap the benefits of its attributes if they;

1. Coordinate & collaborate tourist activities (like that of Tour Operators)

2. Development of infrastructure inland

3. Differentiation and revitalization strategies.

Reality is, all forms of tourism exploit resources to a greater or lesser degree, and no form of tourism is completely ‘green’ (mass or alternative) because of the travel component. Being from the Caribbean, the most dependent region on tourism I understand the economic value ; providing significant employment and foreign exchange to name a few. Therefore one can agree that sustainability should be the central role in the planning and management of tourism developments and products in order to secure a future for South Italy.  Additionally, using the threat tour operators place on the destination and flipping it into an opportunity is something they should consider because according to Trunfio, (2006) supports in marketing and promotion of the destination area and increased visibility, especially on the international marketplace. Tour operators can enable the expansion of the tourist season by stimulating tourism demand through promotions, advertisement and educational trips. This expansion of seasons may alleviate the pressure from mass tourism and drive alternative tourism to stimulate new tourist typologies.