THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN SHAPING TOURIST DESTINATION CHOICES IN PUNE

Abstract

Social media has entirely changed the way people discover tourist destinations. India is known for its tourist attractions as it has wide range of historical sites, rich cultural heritage and natural scenic beauty. The ‘Incredible India Campaign’ launched by Ministry of Tourism which has played an important role in showcasing the country’s tourist destination beauty to the people globally. According to the 2024 report, World Trade Tourism Council stated that the foreign tourists have spent more for tourism in India than in 2019.

This study particularly focuses on the vibrant city of Maharashtra state, Pune. Social Media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and many more are filled with user-generated content like photos, videos, reviews, feedback and recommendations of Pune’s tourism attractions and choices.

Tourists often rely on social media platforms for choosing the travel destination through reviews, feedback and recommendations available. Influencers and travel bloggers play a major role in shaping tourism content of a specific travel destination. With rise of social media platforms, it has become easy for travelers to access the wealth of information and experiences shared by others that impact travel choices.