Tourism is arguably one of the most productive sectors in the UK, estimated to account for about 9 percent of the country’s GDP (Papatheodorou, Rossell & Xiao 2010). The industry encompasses various areas that would directly tend to impact human life. For instance, with tourism and travel come things such as car rental agencies, tour agents, and hotels, among other facilities known to trigger significant impact on a country’s productivity.
In this regard, this dynamic sector has continued to play a key role in diversifying the global economy through investment and employment (Mihali et al. 2002). All these benefits have changed tremendously over the last several years, as a result of various contemporary issues currently witnessed by the human race.
For instance, increased application of electronic and other technologies on the sector is arguably one of the major contemporary issues that have brought greater impact on the hospitality industry. The purpose of this essay is to identify some of the emerging perspectives of the concept of photography as it is applied in tourism and travel sector.
In other words, this essay critically analyses the impact of photography as one of the commonly applied technologies in the sector. The characteristics as well as the consequences of photography as applied in the sector are also observed in this report. Other issues highlighted in the report include recommendation on the possible resolutions that can be used to address various problems associated with the contemporary issue addressed in the essay.
The increased use of modern technologies in the tourism and travel sector is a contemporary issue because the trend is pertinent in almost all social organisations of the modern world (Williams 2006). The incorporation of new age technology in tourism is characterized by the use of sophisticated tools and equipment in transforming the nature of the tourism sector (Buhalis 1998).
As it would be observed, business activities in this dynamic sector are no longer conducted in a conservative style, but this traditional element is rapidly being eradicated from the face of the earth, following the development of new technological systems (Subrahmanyam & Greenfield 2008).
Information and communication are pivotal in today’s tourism and travel sector, and there is no doubt about that. In this regard, sophisticated cameras have completely dominated the tourism sector over the years, as a result of global advancements (Garrod 2009).
Today, the camera has become an integral part of the modern revolution in photography (Harper 2000: 718). Wilhelm et al (2004) observes modern aspects of technology to have revolutionised the tourism industry in a number of ways. Constant application of modern electronics in the tourism sector has triggered both transformative and negative impacts (Buhalis & Law 2008).
In this context, there are mixed arguments on the impact resulting from the application of modern technology in the identified sector. Modern technology may have played a significant role in promoting the tourism sector, but there are other people who are totally convinced that the trend does not necessarily guarantee the tourism sector a competitive advantage anymore (Doswell 2012).
In this regard, excessive dependence on technology in the industry has been both a threat and an opportunity to the players within (Buckley 2012). Key travel intermediaries such tour operators, agents, and conference organisers booking agents are among those who have benefitted from various modern technologies, considering the nature of their work which involves reaching the masses to inform them about various aspects associated with tourism and travel (Rayman-Bacchus & Molina 2001)
The concept of photography is applied in the tourism industry around the world in performing various tasks that are crucial for the success of the sector (Buckley 2012). Some of these important tasks include product development and marketing of tourism products (Doswell 2012).
The use of modern technology in the tourism sector has also been effective in ensuring that tourism clients receive a wider range of products and services that suit their needs (Sheungting, McKercher & Cheung 2010). These approaches have been made easy through the use of photographs and other forms of communication (Valkenburg, Schouten, & Peter 2005).
The advancement of digital cameras and other sophisticated digital media capture devices has tremendously transformed the advertising and attraction department of many tourism facilities (Rost, Jacobsson & Holmquist 2006). Image sharing between intermediaries to customer communications have proved to play an increasingly significant task in the marketing of tourism products.
Through these options, tourism agents are able to pass information regarding their products and services to potential customers via various mediums of communication. This way, potential customers and clients are able to access information regarding their choice of tourism treatment easily before setting off for the journey (Easterling 2005).
These approaches benefit both the tourism intermediaries and the customers in that; the intermediaries have the opportunity of accessing their customers directly, while the customers have the advantage of comparing various tourism facilities before they make up their minds. (Stockdale 2007). In other words, this direct interaction helps to improve the efficiency and effectiveness consumer services in the sector (Buckley 2012).
The advance of mobile phone technology has played a key role in improving the interaction between tourism intermediaries and their potential customers through photography (Doswell 2012). The possibilities presented by the modern technological era have improved our lives abundantly, in a manner no one could have anticipated over a century ago (Beirne & Curry 1999).
Most modern mobile handsets come with high resolution cameras, which are essential for effective interaction among people (Van House 2006). As a matter of fact, digital cameras have in the recent years been outsold by the cameraphones, (Van House et al. 2004).
The mobile phone culture is that, it brings the world to the fingertips of the users, thus enabling them to access the internet and chat directly with their friends and loved ones, no matter the distance separating them (Buckley 2012). These gadgets are known to offer standard operating systems on top of the in-built special features, thus providing much convenience in image processing and sharing (Davis et al. 2005).
The wealth of visual information accessible on the internet offers immense learning opportunities to potential tourists (Feighey 2003). People can easily access photography information about all tourism destinations in the world with just a click of a button on their mobile devices, and this enables them make more informed decisions on their tourism and travel plans (Stockdale 2007).
More importantly, fast and convenient e-Commerce opportunities are provided online to facilitate business activities in the sector (Law, Leung & Wong 2004). This way, customers can now book, pay for, and even make travel and hotel reservations over the internet, thanks to the rapid developments in modern technology (Chiam, Soutar & Yeo 2009).
Anyone in perception of getting the best hospitality facility does not necessarily need the services of a tourism agent, but they can just scroll their 3G phones to search the internet for tourism and/or travel-themed pictures and information which may guide them to the kind of services they require (Beirne & Curry 1999).
Online media usage has become popular nowadays, with the introduction of social network sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, which have attracted overwhelming numbers of users all over the world (Cho et al. 2007). Other significant platforms that have emerged over the last several years include Flicker and the Digital Darkroom, all of which are popular for their ability to offer reliable online photo services (Litvin, Goldsmith & Pan 2010).
Picture processing sites such as Flicker are accessible in the new generation of mobile phones, and this enhances interactions among people (Subrahmanyam & Greenfield 2008). These social networking sites have demonstrated a dramatic increase in the popularity of the tourism industry (Nov, Naaman & Ye 2009).
The photography technology has turned out to be an integral part of human life through which people can interact freely (Golder 2008). Online photo sharing through various social networking sites and platforms is turning out to be a common practice for many people across the world (Stockdale 2007).
As it would be observed, the internet happens to be the largest source of travel information used by the three topmost players of tourism affairs in the world: the United Kingdom, Germany and the U.S (Guill & Surez 2005). Internet users all over the world can easily upload and share photos through these social platforms.
For instance, people are used of seeing elegant snapshots of tourists in holidays making rounds on the internet, after their owners have willingly displayed them for others to view and be able to comment on them where necessary (Brennen & Hardt 1999).
Photographs are intended to serve as souvenirs of historic moments in the past which people may like to remember for the rest of their lives (Thurlow & Jaworski 2010). In that respect, photos taken during a leisure tour to an exotic place are meant to help people tell their beautiful travel stories to others through the above thresholds of sociability, thus motivating them to have their own experiences on the well-trodden destinations (Chiam, Soutar & Yeo 2009).
This communication through photography has greatly helped in enhancing tourism activities and plans in the world (Mitchell 2005). The trend also comes with diverse benefits to various players and stakeholders in the industry (Van House 2006). For example, investors are able to save a lot of money in promotional activities and materials, since the management of marketing platforms over the internet are offered at a relatively low cost (Easterling 2005).
However, these interactions through the emerging culture of photography technology does not only make things easier and more enticing to the players in the tourism industry, but they also play a significant role in saving time for both consumers and tourism intermediaries (Law, Leung & Wong 2004).
Despite these benefits and opportunities, there are also challenges that are directly associated with the increased use of the photography in the tourism sector. For instance, the development of new technologies has encouraged a different kind of competition, whereby investors in the industry have started seeing acquisition of highly sophisticated tools as the only option that can guarantee them a sustainable competitive advantage in the market (Bonn, Furr & Susskind 1998).
Besides, modern photography has become more common that it is the starting point of every other new investor who wishes to try their luck in the hospitality sector (Buckley 2012) This has significantly increased the competition tension within the industry, thus turning it into an economical battle field, where only the strong survive (Beirne & Curry 1999).
Another concern here is that, internet-based photograph sharing has constantly raised many questions about privacy matters, which is viewed by many as a way of exposing one’s life (Miller & Edwards 2007). More importantly, photographs are said to speak more than words (Brennen & Hardt 1999) and in that case, their circulation on the internet has killed the spirit of adventure for some people who don’t see the value of visiting what they have already seen on pictures.
Different people have different tastes for life, and in that case, not all would like everything about a particular tourism destination, no matter its popularity (Dyer et al. 2007). This can be a serious blow on tourism facilities, since it is obvious that crucial tourism images and information must be made available on the internet from where it could be accessed freely by potential tourism consumers and clients (Law, Leung & Wong 2004).
Based on the above observations, the use of photography in the tourism sector is defined by both threats and opportunities. However, players in this competitive sector will need to apply various managerial strategies, to be able to stand out successfully as strong competitors in the market (Litvin, Goldsmith & Pan 2010).
This can be achieved through effective utilisation of the emerging information technology systems, coupled with innovative management strategies (Buhalis 1998). More importantly, investors in the sector will need to approach things in an innovative and creative manner, to be able to make wise business decisions based on the existing threats and opportunities (Doswell 2012).
Finally, re-engineering is also likely to play a significant role in helping investors in the industry deal with the consequences of modern technology (Buckley 2012). Through this idea, players in the tourism sector are able to see useful prerequisites that would enable them make full use of the many unexpected business opportunities presented by the use of modern photography technologies (Doswell 2012).
Tourism is a dynamic sector which has emerged a winner in the adoption and development of modern technological applications. The sector is constantly changing to fit in the demands of the ever-changing trends of life, such as the diverse economic as well as various social factors currently affecting the global populations.
The main section of this essay has extensively expounded on the influence of increased use of photography technology on the tourism sector, and the overwhelming impact of this contemporary issue on humanity. Competing arguments on the addressed issue of concern as drawn from past literature have also been discussed extensively in the paper to identify, highlight, and define the perception of different people regarding the issue.
The art of capturing, processing, and sharing information and photography over various social networking platforms has been observed in this essay, as one of the integral characteristics associated with the overwhelming developments in modern informational age. The impact of the trend on tourism suppliers, on one hand, and consumers, on the other hand, is also observed here.
The report concludes with a critical discussion on the possible outcomes arising from the issue, the course of action which has been generated to address it, and a deep account of the possible resolutions that needs to be applied in dealing with the issue. Based on the arguments presented on this essay, it is clear that photography really plays a significant role in transforming the tourism industry over the last few years.
References
Beirne, E & Curry, P 1999, ‘The impact of the Internet on the information search process and tourism decision making’, Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism, vol. 12 no. 25, pp. 88-97.
Bonn, M, Furr, H, & Susskind, A 1998, ‘Using the Internet as a Pleasure Travel Planning Tool: an Examination of the Sociodemographic and Behavioral Characteristics among Internet Users and Nonusers’, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, Vol. 22 No 3, pp. 303- 317.
Brennen, B & Hardt, H 1999, Picturing the past: Media, history, and photography, University of Illinois Press, Illinois, USA.
Buckley, R 2012, Sustainable tourism: Research and reality: Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Buhalis, D 1998, ‘Strategic use of information technology in the tourism industry’, Tourism Management, vol. 19 no. 5, pp. 409-421.
Buhalis, D & Law, R 2008, ‘Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the Internet—The state of eTourism research’, Tourism Management, vol. 29 no. 4, pp. 609-623.
Chen, C 2006 ‘Identifying significant factors influencing consumer trust in an online travel site’, Information Technology &Tourism, vol. 8 no. 2, pp. 197- 214.
Chiam, M, Soutar, G, & Yeo, A 2009, ‘Online and Off-line Travel Packages Preferences: A Conjoint Analysis’, International Journal of Tourism Research, vol. 11 no. 8, pp. 31- 40.
Cho, H, Gay, G, Davidson, B & Ingraffea, A 2007, ‘Social networks, communication styles, and learning performance in a CSCL community’, Computers & Education, vol. 49 no. 2, pp. 309-329.
Davis, M, Van House, N, Towle, J, King, S, Ahern, S, Burgener, C, Perkel, D, Finn, M, Viswanathan, V, & Rothenberg, M 2005, MMM2: mobile media metadata for media sharing: CHI’05 extended abstracts on Human factors in computing systems, ACM, New York.
Doswell, R 2012, Tourism: How effective management makes the difference, Routledge, United Kingdom, Elsevier.
Dyer, P, Gursoy, D, Sharma, B, & Carter, J 2007, ‘Structural modeling of resident perceptions of tourism and associated development on the Sunshine Coast, Australia’, Tourism Management, vol. 28 no. 2, pp. 409-422.
Easterling, D 2005, “The Residents’ Perspective in Tourism Research”, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, vol. 17 no. 4}, pp. 45-62.
Feighey, W 2003, ‘Negative Image? Developing the Visual in Tourism Research’, Current Issues in Tourism, vol. 6 no. 1, pp. 76-85.
Garrod, B 2009, ‘Understanding the relationship between tourism destination imagery and tourist photography’, Journal of Travel Research, vol. 47 no. 3, pp. 346-358.
Golder, S 2008, Measuring social networks with digital photograph collections: Proceedings of the nineteenth ACM conference on Hypertext and hypermedia’, ACM, New York.
Guill, M & Surez, S 2005, ‘Explaining the global digital divide: Economic, political and sociological drivers of cross-national Internet use’, Social Forces, vol. 84 no. 2, pp. 681-708.
Harper, D 2000, Reimagining visual methods: Galileo to Neuromancer, Handbook of Qualitative Research, Sage, London.
Law, R, Leung, K & Wong, R 2004, ‘The impact of the Internet on travel agencies’, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 16 no. 2, pp. 100-107.
Litvin, S, Goldsmith, R, & Pan, B 2010, ‘Electronic word-of-mouth in hospitality and tourism management’, Tourism Management, vol. 29 no. 3, pp. 458-468.
Mihali et al. 2002, Tourism and economic development issues, Channel View Publications, United Kingdom.
Miller, A & Edwards, W 2007, Give and take: a study of consumer photo-sharing culture and practice: Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems, ACM, New York.
Mitchell, W 2005, What Pictures Want: The Lives and Loves of Images, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Nov, O, Naaman, M & Ye, C 2009, Motivational, structural and tenure factors that impact online community photo sharing: Proceedings of the 3rd Int’l AAAI Conference on Weblogs and Social Media, San Jose, USA.
Papatheodorou, A, Rossell, J & Xiao, H 2010, ‘Global economic crisis and tourism: Consequences and perspectives’, Journal of Travel Research, vol. 49 no. 1, pp. 39-45.
Rayman-Bacchus, L & Molina, A 2001, ‘Internet-based tourism services: business issues and trends’, Futures, vol. 33 no. 7, pp. 589-605.
Rost, M, Jacobsson, M, & Holmquist, L 2006, Push! photo: Informal photo sharing in ad-hoc networks: Extended abstracts of UbiComp, Citeseer, New Jersey.
Sheungting, L, McKercher, B, & Cheung, C 2010, ‘Tourism and online photography’, Tourism Management, vol. 32 no. 4, pp. 725-731.
Soper, A 2007, ‘Developing Mauritianness: National identity, cultural heritage values and tourism’, Journal of Heritage Tourism, vol. 2 no. 2, pp. 94-109.
Stockdale, R 2007, ‘Managing customer relationships in the self-service environment of e-tourism’, Journal of Vacation Marketing, vol. 13 no. 3, pp. 205-219.
Subrahmanyam, K & Greenfield, P 2008, ‘Online communication and adolescent relationships’, The Future of Children, vol. 18 no. 1, pp. 119-146.
Thurlow, C & Jaworski, A 2010, Tourism Discourse: Language and Global Mobility, Palgrave MacMillan, London.
Van House, N 2006, UBICOMP’06 PICS Workshop, Distant closeness: Camera phones and public image sharing, University Of California, Berkeley.
Valkenburg, P, Schouten, A, & Peter, J 2005, “Adolescents’ Identity Experiments on the Internet”, New Media & Society, vol. 7, no.3, pp. 383-402.
Van House, N, Davis, M, Takhteyev, Y, Good, N, Wilhelm, A, & Finn, M 2004, From “what?” to “why?” the social uses of personal photos: Proc. of CSCW 2004, Citeseer, New Jersey.
Wilhelm, A, Takhteyev, Y, Sarvas, R, Van House, N & Davis, M 2004, CHI’04 extended abstracts on Human factors in computing systems, ACM, New York.
Williams, A 2006, ‘Tourism and hospitality marketing: fantasy, feeling and fun’, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 18 no. 6, pp. 482-495.