Social Network Sites and Virtual Tourism Experience

Abstract Social network sites are gaining increasing importance in tourism business and marketing. They have become a rich source of information by creating virtual destination environments that offer pictures, videos, and other opportunities for sharing tourism experiences. These are significant electronic means that affect intentions of potential tourists to visit a destination. This chapter discusses how social network sites provide a great opportunity for individuals to virtually experience destinations prior to their potential journeys. This may, in turn, influence their expectations and satisfaction levels during their actual visits, followed by reinterpretation after the trip.