The evolution of social media and mobile connectivity has changed the way information is shared, changed the way we interact and - most importantly from a business perspective - changed the purchase process in significant ways. The shift is evident in virtually every sector, but Facebook recently conducted a new study looking at the travel industry, specifically, and how social and mobile reach has changed the way people discover and book trips.
Researchers from The Social Network analyzed Facebook and Instagram data and commissioned GfK to survey 2,400 people ages 18-64 in the US who had booked a business or leisure trip in the last three months. Among their findings, Facebook discovered that:
- When planning their last trip, 85% of travellers used a mobile device
- 53% of travellers found holiday inspiration on Facebook
- Travelers spent 5X more time on Facebook than on travel-related apps and sites in the planning process
Facebook's collected their insights into a new infographic - check it out below.