NZ travel operators utilise social media

A recent survey done by Jasons.com found that more accommodation, activities and i-Site operators in New Zealand are turning to social media to better interact with potential customers.

The survey found that 41% were actively engaged in social media on behalf of their business, mainly on Facebook, Twitter and online travel communities. When asked if the operators had plans to invest more time in social media marketing, 26% said they were willing, while another 34% said they wanted to seek advice before making the jump.

But when ranked in order of importance, only 43% of operators saw 'social media engagement' as important or very important, while the number was 88.5% for 'listing on travel websites'.

The survey also surveyed 216 travel consumers and found that when it comes to travel planning, 91% head to websites for their destination, while 47% use travel books and guides. While planning, 64.5% of consumers surveyed read online reviews of accommodation and activities and 30% share their experience online in photos and travel stories after a trip.