PHI Phi Islands, Thailand
An inquiry reveals that a significant part of US tourists, especially the younger ones, chooses their destinations taking into account the physical appearance of the local population or other tourists.
A new research reveals that for a surprising part of the American travelers, choosing where to spend the holidays is not just about beaches, food or sightseeing points – but also to people in the photographs.
According to one of Full Frame Insurance, 27% of Americans have visited or plan to visit a destination specifically because people in promotional photographs or social networks They looked attractive.
The trend is especially strong among men, with 35% admitting this influence. Generation Z leads the group – 59% say local inhabitants or other “sexy” tourists are a decisive factor in choosing a destination. In contrast, only 7% of baby boomers admit the same motivation.
Experts say this is not simply vanity, but a form of “social prediction.” That is, travelers evaluate what kind of audience you can find, the social scene and whether the trip can be aspirational or romantically promising. In an era moved by the image, the destinations where everyone looks elegant, fun and ready for Instagram have a competitive advantage.
For generation Z, the connection between appearance and travel is even more intertwined with social networks. Almost a third claims to have taken someone on a trip mainly to take photos and make videostreating documentation as an essential part of the travel experience, it refers to.
However, the attraction is not just about conventional beauty. 42% of all respondents – and 64% of generation Z – say they are more likely to visit a destination if photos portray a diversified range of people of different races, physical types, ages and capacities. Inclusive images make it easier for travelers to imagine to enjoy the destination, the research found.
But the dependence on photos has a negative side: distrust. Significant 83% of respondents said that the images too refined or generated by AI leave them anxious about the authenticity of a destination. Many fear that carefully selected photos can hide less attractive realities.
These fears are not unfounded. Almost 40% of travelers say they were deceived by travel photographswith 10% interrupting trips after disappointment. Among generation Z, 18% ended their holidays early because the real -life experience did not correspond to the online description.
