TOURISM 3.0

Tourism is a dynamic industry in which online information plays a very important role.

The evolution of the World Wide Web, from Web 1.0, through Web 2.0 to Web 3.0 generation continues, and significantly affects the way consumers obtain information.

During the 90s, the Internet was the main instrument of tourism marketing, because it enabled marketers to create static online brochures.

Web 2.0 technologies, which emerged in 2005, such as social networks, blogs, podcasting, RSS, etc., enabled people who travel for tourism purposes, to obtain information and interact with

tourism service providers at any time, without paying high costs, and in different forms from writing chats to audio-visual elements associated with tourism demand and supply.

Web 3.0 represents the next generation of the World Wide Web, since it introduces transformational activities such as the increasing use of technologies, expanded mobile services, location-based services, enhanced access to real-time information and it can compare millions of data in just a second. For example you can surf the net looking for a room in a private house, a hotel room, a castle, a tent, a flight or much more comparing prices on several platforms and you can book at the best price, with your credit card, in a couple of seconds.

AIRBNB

Airbnb is an online portal that directly connects people looking for an accommodation for short periods, with people who have an extra space to rent.

Today advertisements include accommodations such as private rooms, whole apartments, castles and villas, but also tents, boats, cabins, tree houses, igloos, private islands and any other type of accommodation.

It was founded in 2008 in San Francisco. Its name comes from the abbreviation for Bed and Breakfast (B&B)  and inflatable (air) mattress.

The idea came to Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia in 2007. Since they could not afford to pay the rent for their apartment in San Francisco,  they bought an inflatable mattress and  turned  their living room into a cheap bed and breakfast.

Airbnb became quickly very successful  as people can travel and rent a room in private homes at a lower price than in a hotel. Many people like Airbnb because it also allows you to live a bit more as a local than a tourist.