In its quest to improve its presence as an “entertainment” platform, “Tik Tok” focuses on tourism content, allowing users to discover new ideas for vacation destinations. The site’s official spokesperson, Sasha Al-Jordi, said, “Many users access it today in search of innovative ideas, from which they draw inspiration for their luxurious vacations or ways to change their daily routine. Life.”

During an interview with Asharq Al-Awsad, Sasha Al-Zurdi, Head of Content Programming for “Tik Tok” for the Middle East and North Africa, said, “This clear trend in user behavior calls for them to live for their future plans rather than living in the present moment. Radical change in emergent societies.

Sasha Al-Jordi explained, “When a person decides on a destination he plans to travel to, he can use the (Tik Tok) platform to search for places he wants to visit using the hashtag #WhereToVisit. Find local country and city guides. It provides users with a tool to help them find the best places to visit in the city and local markets.

And he continued, “For foodies and travelers looking for an exceptional dining experience in their destination, the #WhereToEat hashtag is a guide to local restaurants across the Middle East and North Africa.”

Sasha Al-Jurdi emphasized, “There is a growing trend of using (Tik Tok) as a search engine to inspire ideas on ways to organize a backpack, along with advice on travel and tours, vacation spots, travel plans and ways to save on travel expenses. The best restaurants and tourist facilities.” He then explained, “Exploratory activities depend on 3 pillars, which are: the first is to get inspiring ideas, the second is to look for new and unknown places, and then to share experiences and travel advice with the community … and the previous two pillars reinforce the third pillar related to the benefit of local tourism and brands. ” Travel related business.

This search process aligns with the belief that users feel more connected: “as trusted travel guides on the site, pushed towards the appearance of content creators who go to them for advice, logistical information and ideas” Sasha Al-Zurdi said, “#TikTokTravel Hashtag has become a resource, expert in the field and “It’s great to share experiences and explore local and international travel destinations.”

According to an official spokesperson, the site’s travel hashtag has received more than 41.4 billion views globally and 693 million views in the Middle East and North Africa region in the last six months … thus becoming (Tik Tok). Promoting global reference in the travel industry.”

Google Competition

Especially after comments made by Google’s Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan during a technology conference, it is noteworthy that since the middle of last year, there has been talk of “Tik Tok” as a competitor to search engines on the Internet. In July last year, he said, “40 percent of young people now use (Tik Tok) and (Instagram) to search for a place to eat, for example, the (Google) search system or (Google Maps) filters.”

On the other hand, according to statistics published by travel company Arevia last year: “Nearly 60 percent of Generation Z and 40 percent of Millennials now rely on social networking sites for travel purposes.”

Returning to Sasha Al-Jordi, TikTok’s interest in travel content suggests that “changing the time zone improves the mood… and then allows TikTok users to present their experiences in the travel industry through their own lenses and their authentic perspective.” And he continues, “Content producers provide insights into people, cultures and places that foster a sense of belonging among members of the community, sparking inspiration based on content and subcultures.”

Sasha Al-Jordi believes, “Travel creators on the platform provide a unique view of what’s popular and what’s popular, and help increase the popularity of tourism sites supporting local economies, tourism and all related sectors.”

It is not limited to promoting tourist attractions and restaurants; Instead, it actually extends to promoting brands, and here the spokesperson says, “This creative natural environment creates a huge opportunity for different brands to be at the center of culture; It was discovered by the thriving travel community across the region… The travel content on the platform is a strong supporter of the spirit of adventure, and strengthens cultural ties in the community, making the platform a global village of people. Different backgrounds from around the world meet and share their experiences, experiences and unique journeys » .

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The meeting touched on the market in Saudi Arabia, and here Sasha Al-Jordi says, “The (Tik Tok) platform has gained widespread popularity in the Kingdom, and travel and tourism content has gained widespread popularity, and many users of the platform, including content creators and influencers, are posting videos about travel. They share.” It reviews various attractions, tourist attractions and cultural experiences in Saudi Arabia.

In this context, he added, “Hashtag (How to visit Riyadh) (Where to visit in Riyadh) #WhereToVisitRiyad has received 83 million views worldwide and about 19.7 million views in the Middle East and North Africa region in the last six months. … and for the best restaurants in Saudi Arabia, the hashtag #WhereToEatKSA has received 1.6 billion views globally and 236 million views in the Middle East and North Africa region in the last six months.

As for the top travel destinations currently on the platform, “Dubai was voted the best travel destination (on Tik Tok) as part of the Bounce Travel Index report for 2022,” noted Sasha Al-Jourdi. He pointed out that the #WhereToVisit hashtag launched by “Tik Tok” in the Middle East and North Africa region has received more than 2.9 billion views worldwide and 713 million views in the region in the last six months. The Middle East and North Africa travel tag has become a great place to explore the region, especially for vacations and vacations.

Those interested in the restaurant industry have a place on the platform with the hashtag #WhereToEat, which – according to Sasha Al-Jordi – provides a guide to the best restaurants, dishes and food options. In the last six months it has received 7.5 billion views worldwide and 713 million views in the region.

Sasha Al-Jourdi cites research by the Marketing Research Unit on travel in the European Union in 2021 conducted by Walnut Unlimited, confirming the important role “Tik Tok” plays today in helping travelers find their destination and find a vacation. And 49 percent of 100% of users reported purchasing a vacation-related product under the influence of TikTok, and 74% of travel purchases were spontaneous and unplanned.

According to an annual survey by travel marketing research specialist MMGY Global, released earlier this year, 34 percent of U.S. travelers will make their decisions through “Tik Tok” in 2022, an increase of about 10 percent. 2021.

Sasha Al-Jordi pointed out that the EU Travel Marketing Research Unit indicated that 75 percent of TikTok users find travel and vacation content on the platform interesting and innovative, while 77 percent said the platform plays a role in discovering and promoting a destination. Travel related product.

Finally, in 2018, Chinese company “Beat Dance” launched “Tik Tok” as an entertainment platform based on short video clips, but the platform has now also become a source of news. At the end of last year, a study published by the Reuters Institute for Journalism Studies found that “40 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 use the platform (Tik Tok) for various purposes, while 15 percent of the same age group use the group site as a source of news.” ». The study continued, ” The site now has over a billion active users and is the most downloaded app on mobile phones in 2020.”