Google Wave ââ¬' the next big thing in social networking

 

Massive changes in consumer marketing by travel companies and destinmations will continue into 2010 with the advent of Google Wave.

Altough still beta testing, the new form of communciation and collaboration online is expected to be the next big thing on the internet after Twitter.

Google Wave is expected to incorporate email, instant messaging and social networking.

This means consumers will not need to log in separately to individual social media networks.

"There is no doubt that this service will mean a Google Wave homepage is likely to be the first point of contact when users browse the internet in future and could become the strongest social platform on the web," a report prepared for long haul destinations by UK travel PR and representation company BGB said.

The Longhaul Insight Report, being released at World Travel Market today (Tuesday), points out that social networks have received more traffic than any other category of website, with online reviews being seen as largely trustworthy.

Social networking website are now the second biggest traffic drivers to websites after search engines, according to internet research firm Hitwise.

"The massive changes in consumer marketing as a result of social media will continue," the report predicts.

"After the Twitter growth in 2009 we predict that the next major disruptive technology for 2010, which long haul tourist boards need to be considering, is Google Wave."

The report goes on to warn that next year is set to be "especially tough" for long haul travel from the UK from May because of the general election.

"After this, a new government is likely to bring in a raft of emergency measures to generate new income.

"Individual events such as the staging of the football World Cup in South Africa will mean June will also be a difficult month.

"Insecurity over jobs means that the trend of late booking and value-seeking will continue, with all-inclsuives, whether hotel or ship-based, continuing to prove popular."

by Phil Davies