Will any social travel startup survive? It doesn’t look good

How many companies have become massive by merely inspiring people to travel? As the once-crowded market for travel inspiration apps and sites thins out, the answer may actually be zero.

The biggest travel startup success stories solve a real pain point, focused on planning, booking, or information on-the-go. That’s why the many inspiration sites launched in recent years have been doomed from the start: users don’t need a separate social network for that. When I hear “Pinterest for travel,” I wonder what was wrong with actual Pinterest for travel. There were plenty of “Facebook for (pets/grandmothers/neighbors)” at one time, too. Few are left.