Location-Based Social Networking Technologies for Tourism/Travel

K. Michael, University of Wollongong

Abstract

Location-based Social Networking (LBSN) technologies are increasingly being used by citizens in a diverse range of applications. This paper looks at how LBSN can be used in the context of tourism and travel in the context of family safety, for commercial purposes such as to increase return visits to destinations, and to bring people together. The paper acknowledges that while tourism is one of the best applications of LBSN, it is not without its own risks. For instance, location technologies add a dimension to social networking- it is not just a virtual space but also a physical space that brings two or more people together. Be-friending, and un-friending strangers for instance, where no rules of engagement have been previously defined is both complex and comes with its own sets of risks.