Travellers told to ditch the selfie
You may have your phones at the ready for National Selfie Day on 21st June, but is it time for us to #DitchTheSelfie?
Oyster Worldwide travel specialists say the urge to take travel selfies is taking over from the true enjoyment and appreciation of the moment. And it’s not just these guys asking you to take time out from selfies.
Recently, the small picturesque Swiss village of Bergün put a full on ban on selfie-taking because they deemed the location too beautiful, and are disappointed that travellers are more interested in showing off their travel endeavours than being in the moment.
“Real travel moments are experienced in those moments when we pause to take in a view, listen to the sound of the waves or have a conversation with an interesting local,” Travel Adviser for Oyster Worldwide, Harriet Wray said.
“We are seeing a trend for people wanting to take as many selfies in as many places as possible. People are rushing from one spot to another trying to pack in as many selfies as they can, rather than taking the time to stop and look around”.
A global survey of over 1000 respondents conducted by the travel company gathered some interesting facts more about travel selfie habits.
The survey found that 51 per cent of respondents take one to 10 selfies during a one-week holiday, with 45 per cent sharing up to five of their selfies on social media.
Almost half of respondents claim that they share their travel selfies because their family and friends want to see them, while 10 per cent admit they want to show off to their social media friends.
34 per cent of those surveyed feel it is at least somewhat important for people to engage with their travel selfies on social media, with 35 per cent saying they feel happy when someone likes their holiday selfie and seven per cent admitting it makes them feel validated.
The younger respondents placed prominence on social media interaction, with 53 per cent of respondents aged 18-25 saying it was important or somewhat important that people liked their selfies on social media.
On top of this, 21 per cent of all respondents say they feel disappointed or embarrassed if their travel selfie doesn’t get any likes, while the number was again higher among the 18-25-year-old group, with 39 per cent of these respondents saying they would feel the awkward shame.
With such emotions attached to travel selfies, it’s not surprising to see that a quarter of respondents feel pressure to obtain a good selfie while on holiday, and 15 per cent said they would be disappointed or upset if they didn’t manage to obtain a good selfie while on holiday or travelling.
Again the 18-25 year-old-respondents polled higher than average, with 35 per cent saying they feel pressured to obtain a good selfie and 33 per cent saying that they would feel upset or disappointed if they didn’t manage to get a good selfie while travelling.
“We think it’s time to ditch the travel selfie and get back to enjoying real travel experiences off-camera, which is why we’ve launched our campaign to ditch the selfie,” Harriet added.
Oyster will be launching their #DitchTheSelfie website on National Selfie Day, where you can join them in pledging to #DitchTheSelfie. The campaign comes shortly after a study which found that 40.1 per cent of millennials choose their holiday destination based on ‘Instagrammability’.
Travel selfies have also been hitting the headlines as tourists undertake ever more dangerous measures to get a show-stopping selfie – including selfies taken on top of cliffs, next to wild animals and in front of active volcanoes.
In April 2017 a Sacramento woman fell from a 60ft bridge while taking a selfie. In 2015 three college students in India died while trying to take a selfie next to a fast moving train.
Extreme and dangerous consequences like this are rare, however they are further evidence of the importance people place on gaining the perfect selfie, rather than spending their time truly engaging with their destination.
“People are spending their travel time taking and sharing selfies rather than really taking in the moment for themselves.” Harriet added.
You can find out more about the campaign, where you can also pledge your allegiance to the #DitchtheSelfie Movement if you feel that travel selfies have taken over from true travel experiences.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Ditchtheselfie Instragram selfies tourism travel travel selfiesLatest News
Bonza hires restructuring advisory amid turbulence at Miami-based owner 777 Partners
The financiers of low-cost regional airline Bonza have hired restructuring advisory KordaMentha to give them advice on the operations of the airline. Bonza, which launched in January last year, is a budget airline based on the Gold Coast. They fly to regional areas such as Cairns but do not fly to Sydney or Brisbane (they […]
Let the games begin. Viking introduces eye-watering benefits for the industry’s top 10 advisors
Are you one of the industry’s top agents? Well you’ll want to become one when you see the benefits of being invited into Viking‘s platinum club. The Platinum Club is the evolution of Viking’s top advisors incentive program. Just as platinum status celebrates the pinnacle of artistic achievement and platinum cards symbolise the financial elite, the […]
Best friends or frenemies? What is the REAL relationship between sales and marketing?
It’s the age-old business conundrum and a conundrum that becomes all the more important when budgets are squeezed. Which is more important, sales or marketing? The answer depends on who you ask, Journey Beyond’s Justine Lally and Alicia Triggs say. (Lead Image: Justine Lally and Alicia Triggs ) Journey Beyond is an experiential tourism group […]
The Walshe Group Announces Two Key Appointments
What we really want to know is whether they got joint or separate welcome parties.
FAMIL: Agents explore the delights of Mauritius on 7-day tour
Go green with envy as you read this fabulous itinerary! Time to book that second honeymoon.
Hamad International recognised as world’s best airport at 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards
Hamad airport is so good it is almost considered a destination in itself. Ballina, up your game.
Saudi Arabia highlights tourism investment opportunities at global investment event
Now is the time to start looking at Saudi Arabia if you are not already. There's big things to come.
“Rampant” – Aussies warned as dengue fever cases spike in Bali
Worried about Bali belly? Now you have something else to worry about.
TTC Tour Brand reveals slew of deals across operators including Trafalgar and Contiki
Everybody loves a bargain and you could do lot a lot worse than check out these deals from TTC!
Fiji Airways partners with Porter Airlines in US growth bid
Any initiative that gets more people visiting the delights of Fiji is a good initiative.
Flight Centre launches CruiseHQ – a marketplace exclusively for agents
The cruise industry has surpassed pre-Covid levels so this isn't one to miss!
Feeling festive? Wendy Wu tours unwraps Christmas collection
Get the Christmas hols booked now and avoid spending it with that elderly relative with dubious political views.
OPINION: In a world of screens, we crave experience
If you get feelings of deep shame and regret when you see your screen time, don't worry - you're not alone.
Sun Princess: High-end dining and world class entertainment awaits
If you are a foodie and you are not currently on the Sun Princess, we really have to ask - what are you doing?
YouGov: 2 in 5 Aussies would pay more for a sustainable hotel
If you want to be REALLY sustainable you can go camping. You just might lose the will to live.
“Can planes swim?” – Planes become boats as Dubai Airport is savaged by severe storm
Unfortunately, "can planes swim?" is a real life question and not an opener to a really bad joke...
Explora journeys reveals bespoke outdoor furniture designed by Matteo Nunziati
This is making your plastic table and chairs look really bad now, isn't it?
Bangkok Airways targets growth with renewed Sabre deal
Two stories abut Sabre's growth in one week and its only Wednesday! Watchout world.
PR agency Example wins pitch for InterContinental Sydney
We also went in for the contract but they said that a 'Be Our Guest'- themed TikTok was unoriginal! The cheek.
Norwegian Cruise Line reveals culinary experience aboard Norwegian Aqua
Once again, this TW journalist REALLY regrets writing this before getting lunch.
Signature Queensland hosts luxury tourism event
Known for its tropical beaches and unique wildlife, Queensland also offers luxury.
Capella Sydney recognised in prestigious Travel + Leisure’s 2024 ‘it list’ of best new hotels
You know that 'it girl' at school who everyone wanted to hang out with? Capella is the hotel version of that.
Rex launches 72-hour fare sale with NO school holiday blackout so you can take your kids (if you want to)
Sadly, leaving your children at home whilst you go on holiday is generally frowned upon.
Adventure World offers chance to connect with “heart and soul” of the US
I mean who hasn't dreamed of a road trip around the US?! Go with Adventure World and you're less likely to get lost.
Fiji’s family-owned luxury resort Likuliku Lagoon launches its own app
We were relieved to find out that having a "concierge in your pocket" referred to an app on your phone.
Hawaii: The US’ laid-back front door for Australians
If you needed another sign that you should definitely head to Hawaii - this is it!
Sabre targets Asia Pacific growth with latest hire
Call the Avengers! Sabre continues its bid for world domination with latest hire.
Air New Zealand signs its largest EVER deal for sustainable aviation fuel
Air New Zealand makes huge step towards sustainable travel. We bet it recycles its rubbish properly too.
IHG Hotels & Resorts continues regional growth with Sunshine Coast Holiday Inn
This Holiday Inn looks considerably flashier than some of the ones we have stayed at in our time.
Budget carrier Scoot welcomes first of 9 E190-E2 aircrafts
Here at TW we would like to offer Embraer E190-E2 a warm welcome! It's not easy being the first of the fleet.
Singapore Airlines grows group passenger traffic by 13.9% for March
This is one of the few situations where an increase in traffic is a good thing.
Number of Aussies going on cruises beats pre-pandemic levels
To be honest, if being stuck inside for two years doesn't give you the travel bug, then nothing will.
Vietjet slashes prices on flights across Vietnam, India & Australia
You can now fly to Vietnam for less money than a night out in Sydney or Melbourne. Time to reconsider the budget.
The Australian Hotels Association (WA) names accommodation excellence award winners
Think blowing up the airbed for your mate qualifies as accommodation excellence? Think again.
Abercrombie & Kent launches Peruvian riverboat tour
If you think being left at a port is scary? Imagine being stuck in the Amazon.
Club Med Bali reveals last-minute group travel deal
If you haven't frolicked across a beach in Bali with your colleagues have you even lived?