Developing Tourism Education Through Social Media

Abstract

Tourism is among the industries that are facing increasing challenges. It requires the development of educational systems that need to use more interactive approach through information and communication technologies in order to enhance the quality of learning. The recent development of the Internet along with the emergence of Web 2.0 and the expansion of online communities have persuaded many individuals to become more active on the Internet, forming and maintaining social relationships. They are not passive users searching only for information, but they are also active users who generate content to participate in debates. Networking is now a common strategy among individuals to share experiences and to educate each other. They join online communities or social networking sites, with a view to generate content. Drawing on theories of social support and social media perspective, this research discusses the opportunities that social media provides to enhance the quality of e-learning in the tourism industry. The results revealed from content analysis answer how social media can be used as an educational development strategy. They are also a source for online social support. The discussions, limitations and implementations are discussed in the end of the paper.