With the increased penetration of digitalisation in our lives, photographic tourism is rising.
All of the marketing communication platforms that marketers use must include photographs as essential components. As we can see from numerous brochures, websites, and billboards, many tourism destinations use images to showcase the beauty of their locations in an effort to draw more tourists.
In a similar line, travellers consult images when deciding where to spend their time while on vacation. Due to the substantial influence that images have on tourism, marketers heavily invest in this instrument to stimulate the sense of sight. Most travellers take photos as part of their tourism activities since travelling is a joyful experience that people appreciate. As a result, it is evident that photography and tourism are internal.
The idea of “Photographic Tourism”:
Certainly, the advent of digital cameras, which resulted in a noticeable rise in the number of images, has had an impact on visitor behaviour during the past ten years. The behaviour of tourists is primarily to blame for the social activity of photo sharing on various social networking sites. The majority of young adults are preoccupied with social networking sites, and the prevalence of “selfie photos” has given rise to a new phrase dubbed “Photographic Tourism.”
The appeal of the idea of photographic tourism rests in its capacity to reveal the unseen, bring attention to the overlooked locations, and transform the image into the palpable, real world. In order to effectively communicate a message to viewers and influence tourists’ decisions, many marketers relied on photography as a useful marketing tool in the tourism industry. As a result, the image has replaced all other forms of marketing communication throughout the world. Basically, tourists choose to go to a place after having seen it, then they decide to go there in order to snap some special pictures of themselves.
How both photography and tourism culture are helping each other?
Photographs are employed as significant deciding factors for travellers’ vacation plans, influencing their actions and demonstrating how satisfied they are with tourist sites. As a result, many forms of photography can show tourist destinations from various angles.
Photographs of certain tourist places, for instance, display the stunning architecture and scenery there. Geographical locations and natural scenery are depicted in several images. A photograph’s impact on the viewer may be influenced by a variety of its components, including colour. In this regard, the usefulness of the factors depicted in images that affect diverse tourist decision-making regarding the trip places is still up for debate because it hasn’t been evaluated or compared.
It is becoming more and more obvious that visitors cannot go on vacations anymore without a camera due to the rising popularity of digital photography. It must be obvious that the role that photographs play in vacations, and therefore for the visitors, has altered. The amount to which the camera dominates the vacation and whether the tourist is still in charge may seem clear, but there hasn’t been much research on this.
A good photograph incorporates a variety of photographic elements, including lighting, composition, subject matter, and colour. Every component that is shown in a photograph, including the choice of colour tones, maybe a significant factor that affects how tourists feel. Therefore, it is crucial to look into how the influence of photographic components, such as hue composition, affects travellers’ intentions. Through a number of media outlets, marketers use images as crucial tools to promote their tourism destinations.
As far as the organised portion of tourism is concerned, the use of physical objects and mental imagery are inextricably interwoven. A tourist wants to preserve this memory and have something concrete to serve as both a reminder and a remembrance at the same time. People believe that taking photos while on vacation definitely defines the vacation experience. One thing is for certain: individuals do not want to miss a highlight because doing so would prevent them from getting memorable photos.
Travelling and Photography give us a handful of advantages, and let’s look at those:
- The Excitement of Discovery:
You want to take advantage of every chance to travel as a tourist. Being able to travel to a particular location will give you that special experience that you will never forget. With a camera in your hand, you will be able to experience the delight of exploring. There are many lovely things that you can photograph. For many people, being able to do so is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For this reason, you should always bring your camera when you travel somewhere new and take in the sights.
- You Get to Relive Your Experience:
We have to accept that some locales are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. There are some locations that are so far away that you can only visit them seldom. You should not overlook keeping a journal of your trips to both your favourite locations and those you have long wished to visit. You may always relive the event in this manner. You can document such uncommon and significant occurrences in your life as a traveller with a camera. The picture on the wall or the ones you shared on social media will serve as a constant reminder as you move on in life. This is how using a camera might allow you to relive your adventures.
- You’ll develop Your Creative Side:
Being a tourist and taking photographs of your travels are two great ways to use your creativity. Travelling has the ability to ease the mind, but if you are there to capture moments, you can also ensure that you learn a lot about photography. You’ll see that as your surroundings or environment change, you’ll also pick up new photography techniques. You will pick up on the newest techniques and how to make any subject shine.
- Adding Exciting Experience to Your Travel Journey:
If you’re a tourist, your major objective is to visit a location and take part in activities there. After many unpleasant events, it is such a wonderful feeling to be in a new environment. Additionally, if you are there to take pictures, you are enhancing the excitement of the whole thing. When tourism is being documented, it may be best appreciated. Consider looking for the ideal things to shoot if you want it to be more thrilling. You’ll discover that it’s simpler for you to concentrate on the region’s most stunning features when you hold your camera while you move around.
- Making Wonderful Memories:
Are you taking pals on the trip? Are you there by yourself to make new friends? Whatever vacation style you choose, photography will enable you to capture priceless experiences. Make sure that your family’s experience will be preserved for future generations if you are travelling with your family. This is one way that photography can assist in creating lovely memories. There are some people you will only ever meet once; therefore, taking pictures of them is ideal.
One of the most well-liked tourist activities is travel photography. You can take pleasure in this in a number of ways. As you enjoy your journey, you will undoubtedly increase your delight if you are familiar with the various styles and can identify the greatest subjects. Remember to take pictures as you move from one location to another. These moments captured in a photograph will support you when you are at home and must once more confront reality.
- Power of Social Media:
Instagram’s impact on how we perceive the world and choose where to go has been nothing short of remarkable. Instagram is now owned by Facebook. Travellers are now looking to popular Instagram feeds to help them select where to go next, rather than the traditional travel brochures or guidebooks. Instagram is essentially the internet’s equivalent of a world trip guide.
Posing in front of a famous global site or on a secluded beach, such Instagram photos have a powerful effect on viewers, making them yearn to have the same experience. Instagram’s influence is undeniable, given that 48% of users use it to plan their next vacation, and it has a 10 times higher engagement rate than Facebook.
In a nutshell, the relationship between tourism and photography may be quantified. One of the rare occupations that allows one to help people learn and discover new experiences and civilizations is travel photography. It is a way of life. Currently, it all seems to be in vain, but now more than ever, our past experiences, travels, and acquaintances enable us to gaze into a mirror and recognise the chinks in the reality that we refer to. Every moment exists due to your creation. It’s acceptable to pause and dream once more.
Also Read: Why social media tops in influencing tourist’s bucket list
(Purbasha Palit is a student of Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University.)
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the author’s and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Partnersincrave.com. Unless otherwise noted, the author is writing in his/her personal capacity. They are not intended and should not be thought to represent official ideas, attitudes, or policies of any agency or institution.)
