How Social Media Changes the Way We Travel

Full script

Read the whole talk.

All slides in one place. Read it through once, then practice slide by slide.

1. 01How Social Media Changes the Way We Travel

   Good afternoon, everyone. Have you ever visited a place just because you saw it on Instagram? Today, I'd like to talk about how social media is changing the way we travel.

   大家下午好。你有没有因为在Instagram上看到某个地方，就专门去了一趟？今天，我想谈谈社交媒体是如何改变我们的旅行方式的。

2. 02Choosing Where to Go

   In the past, people chose where to go from guidebooks. Now, many travelers find places through photos and short videos. Some small towns have become popular almost overnight.

   过去，人们靠旅游指南来决定去哪里。现在，很多游客是通过照片和短视频发现目的地的。一些小镇几乎一夜之间就火了起来。

   The numbers on this slide are made up for practice. They are not real data.

3. 03Why Social Media Is So Powerful

   Why is social media so powerful? One reason is that the photos come from real people, not from advertisements. Short videos also show the mood of a place in just a few seconds, and they are easy to share with friends.

   为什么社交媒体的影响力这么大？一个原因是，这些照片来自真实的人，而不是广告。另外，短视频只用几秒钟就能展现一个地方的氛围，而且很容易分享给朋友。

4. 04The Downside

   However, there is a downside. Some places now have too many visitors. This is called overtourism. Also, some people seem to care more about taking photos than enjoying the moment.

   不过，这也有不好的一面。有些地方现在游客太多了，这被称为“过度旅游”。另外，有些人似乎更在乎拍照，而不是享受当下。

5. 05What About Local People?

   Overtourism also affects the people who live there. In some popular cities, streets and buses are so crowded that daily life becomes difficult for locals. Some places, like Venice, have even started charging day visitors an entry fee.

   过度旅游也会影响当地居民。在一些热门城市，街道和公交车挤得水泄不通，当地人的日常生活都变得困难。有些地方，比如威尼斯，甚至开始向一日游的游客收取入城费。

   Source: City of Venice: access fee for day visitors (2024)

6. 06Traveling Smarter

   So how can we travel smarter? We can visit less famous places, travel in the off-season, and follow local rules. Small choices like these help spread tourists out.

   那么，我们怎样才能更聪明地旅行呢？我们可以去一些不那么有名的地方，在淡季出行，并且遵守当地的规定。这样的小选择能帮助分散游客。

7. 07Conclusion

   To sum up, social media is a great tool for finding new places. But when you get there, put your phone down and enjoy the place with your own eyes. Thank you.

   总之，社交媒体是发现新地方的好工具。但到了那里，请放下手机，用自己的眼睛去欣赏那个地方。谢谢。