Travel in the time of selfies: how a new generation of tech-savvy tourists is reshaping one of Hong Kong’s pillar industries
- The era of postcards is over: travellers now post images online as they happen
- Emerging breed of globetrotters increasingly follow online influencers
On a steep, narrow street in the heart of Hong Kong, dozens of tourists risk being run over by motorists as they jostle to take selfies in front of a mural of old town houses.
The colourful wall art at the tiny junction of Graham Street and Hollywood Road is one of several spots in the older part of Central where visitors can collect memorable Hong Kong photographs to share on social media.
Like many others, South Koreans Sun Woo and So Yeon, both 26, have been hopping from place to place, shooting selfies against striking local backdrops and immediately posting them on Instagram.
Visiting Hong Kong for the first time, the cosmetics researchers from Seoul worked out many details for their three-day holiday – where to stay, what to see, do and eat, and the best photo locations – using social media applications on their smartphones.
“We learned about the attractions from Instagram,” Sun said, before the pair headed for the International Finance Centre. “Some people are saying on the app that there are nice restaurants at IFC, so we are going there now.”
Sun and So are among the emerging breed of tech-savvy travellers who follow online influencers, also known as key opinion leaders (KOLs), to find out the best ways to experience a destination, including going where the locals go.