Asia-Pacific travelers love social media, but they also love traditional travel agents

It is an interesting conundrum. While travellers from Asia-Pacific countries are more prolific than others in uploading new pictures or updating status messages on social media networking sites when on a holiday, they do just the opposite to book one. They go traditional and knock on the doors of their trusted travel agent to book a holiday or rely on travel programmes on television to decide where to holiday.

“Asia-Pacific countries lead the way in using social media to inspire, purchase and share their travel experiences. Seventy-two percent Asia-Pacific travellers said they have used social media to inspire at least one element of their recent holidays, compared to only 51% travellers globally,” according to a survey done by Text100, a communications consultancy firm. Despite this appetite for digital communication, many Asia-Pacific consumers still base travel decision on more traditional sources of influence, the survey found out. “Forty-eight percent say travel agents still help in planning their holidays, while 57% are influenced by travel television programmes,” the survey said.