In a globalized world
we are also more hyperlocal than ever. We crave the carrotmobs
and cater to a growing wave couchsurfers.
Locals are using Flickr
to show off neighborhood events and visitors are seeking out
what makes places unique.
Planeta.com is a proud partner of the Local
Travel Movement — the main goal of which is to make
‘local
travel’ a key travel trend, aka buzzword that percolates
on the Web and on the street. The movement is a celebration
of the long
tail writ in the world of travel. Quoting Long Tail author
Chris Anderson: “Everyone’s taste departs from the
mainstream somewhere. The more we explore alternatives the more
we are drawn to them.”
Speaking with Ethan Gelber , it’s refreshing to see how
optimistic he is about the travel industry and the possibilities
of where it can go once localities are valued. Says Ethan: "The
local travel movement adds momentum to a growing movement, to
a growing sense of awareness within the industry that there
is a still a disconnect with the traveler."
Ethan sees the movement – spread across the web using
web 2.0 channels
including LinkedIn and Twitter – as an opportunity to
create a nexus that shows travelers how to successfully engage
with locals. Given the diversity of partner companies, the Local
Travel Movement is not overly descriptive. Rather than define
‘local travel,’ the Local Travel Movement simply
places value on an approach to travel that is mindful of local
people, the local environment, local culture and the local economy.
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