From Licensed Guides to Content Creators: Rethinking Tourism in the Social Media Era
Written in conversation with Walkwithan In today’s digital era, social media has become the main stage for tourism promotion. A single post, photo, or video can instantly attract travelers to visit a destination. But behind the viral reels and perfectly edited clips, one question often arises: how can we tell the difference between a real tour provider and someone who just sells the idea of travel online? That’s where my conversation began — with Edy, Sam, and Safra, three licensed guides who’ve spent years on the ground, leading real tours across East Java. Social Media vs. Real Experience I opened our chat by asking how licensed guides see the rise of influencers in tourism. “If we talk about social media,” said Edy, “we can show our experiences to everyone. But many of those content creators only sell the image — they don’t really organize tours. So when they finally get…