In the fast-evolving landscape of the 21st century, the incorporation of technology into Hospitality and Tourism education is reshaping traditional ideas and creating new opportunities for learners, educators, and industry stakeholders alike. This paper examines how technology influences social interactions in educational environments, analyzing whether digital tools help bridge or widen gaps among diverse student groups. Social media is pivotal in tourism and hospitality education, offering real-time industry insights, networking possibilities, and hands-on learning for students. Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn enable students to connect with professionals, track trends, showcase their work, and stay informed about the latest industry developments. This interactive method not only deepens students' understanding but also fosters important connections for future career prospects. Utilizing a qualitative approach, this research gathers perspectives from students, educators, and key industry stakeholders through interviews, supplemented by secondary literature. The findings indicate that while technology improves access to information and supports innovative teaching methods, it also highlights challenges such as disparities in digital literacy and infrastructural limitations. Social media plays a crucial role in disseminating information to a broad audience, granting students access to a wealth of global knowledge and resources. It encourages interactive learning through discussions, networking, idea sharing, and collaboration between students and educators, providing practical insights into the Tourism and Hospitality sectors. However, significant challenges such as distractions, misinformation, dependency, privacy and security concerns remain. The paper concludes that an interactive approach can enhance students' knowledge while simultaneously helping them forge valuable connections for their future careers.
Stathopoulou, A. N.-T. S. (2019, February 2nd). A Multi-stakeholder view of social media as a supporting tool in Higher education: An Educator - student perspective. Elsevier European Management Journal, Vol 37, 421-431.
doi:https//doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2019.01.008
Bennet, L. (2017). Social Media, Academics' identify work and the Good Teacher. International Journal for Academic Development, Vol 22(Issue 3), 245-256.
Dolan., R., Seo., Y., & Kemper., J. (2019, January 23). Complaining practices on social media in tourism. A value co-creation and co-destruction perspective. Tourism Management, Vol 73, 35-45. doi:Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2019.01.017
Hossain, M. I., Jamadar, Y., Alam, M. K., Pal, T., Islam, M. T., & Sharmin, N. (2024). Exploring the Factors Impacting the Intention to Use Metaverse in the Manufacturing Industry Through the Lens of Unified Technology Acceptance Theory. In Research, Innovation, and Industry Impacts of the Metaverse (pp. 43-61). IGI Global.
Hossain, M. I., Jamadar, Y., Momo, N. B., Hafiz, N., & Saiba, R. N. (2024). Unlocking the Potentials and Constraints of Metaverse Implementation in Manufacturing Firms. In Research, Innovation, and Industry Impacts of the Metaverse (pp. 223-246). IGI Global.
Hossain, M. I., Kumar, J., & Islam, M. T. (2024). Antecedents of Sustainable Tourism Development in Sundarbans, Bangladesh with the Moderation of Political Instability and Mediation of Destination Resilience. Tourism Planning & Development, 1-29.
Islam, M. T. (2021). Applications of social media in the tourism industry: A review. SEISENSE Journal of Management, 4(1), 59-68.
Islam, M. T., & Boro, A. (2019). Tourism Marketing via Social Media in India: The Most Effective Marketing Strategy to Evolve Indian Tourism. Journal of Tourism Intelligence and Smartness, 2(1), 39-46.
Islam, M. T., Hussin, S. R., & Yee, W. F. (2022). Factors Influencing the Information Adoption from Social Media review Platform: Extending Information Adoption Model (IAM) with Information Diagnosticity. Journal of Content, Community, and Communication, 16(8), 4-25.
Islam, M. T., Pradhan, B., & Kumar, J. (2024). Social Media Reviews' Influence on Spa and Wellness Consumer Choices: Conceptual Framework, Prospective Significance, and Future Research Directions. In Utilizing Smart Technology and AI in Hybrid Tourism and Hospitality (pp. 1-22). IGI Global.
Jansson, A. (2018, February 22 ). Rethinking post-tourism in the age of social media. Annals of Tourism Research, 101-110. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/jannals.2018.01.005
Jefferson, J. (2013). Could Social Media bridge the devide between business an education?The guardian. Retrieved fromhttp:www.the guardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/jun/28/social-media-business-education-internships.
Kearny, T. &. (2016). Engagement, Co-creationand Social Media Networks in Higher Education. AMAWinter Educators' Conference Proceedings. Vol 27, K47-K49.
Kezar, A. (2014). Higher Education Change and Social Networks: A Review of Research. The Journal of Higher Education. Vol 85(issue 1), 91-125.
Nur, A.S.N., Sahabuddin, M., Hossain, M.I., Ismail, N. (2024). Examining the influence of functional, social and psychological antecedents on attitude towards Chatbot usage: an emerging market context. International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets. 10. 1504/IJBEM.2025.10064107.
Pandey, U., Islam, M. T., & Hossain, M. I. (2023). Servicescape, E-WoM, and satisfaction on tourists’ revisit intention to yoga tourist destination: Evidence from Patanjali Yogpeeth, India. Revista Turismo & Desenvolvimento, 44, 313-333.
Sedera, D., Lokuge, S., Atapattu, M., & Gretzel, U. (2017). Likes- The Key to my happiness: The moderating eefect ofsocial influence on travel experience. Information & Management., Vol 54(Issue 6), 825-836.
Sharma, S. J. (2016). A Multi-Analytical Approach to predict the Facebook usagein Higher Education. Computers in Human Behavior. 55, 340-353.
Van den Bulte, C. &. (2007). Social Networks and Marketing. Cambridge MA: Marketing Science Institute.
Voorn, R. J. (2013). Social Media & Higher Education: Introversion and Collaborative Learning from the students perspective. International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments, 1 (1), 59-73. doi:https//doi.org/10/1006/.2019.01
Xuerui, L., Fuad, M., Chun, L., & Schuckert, M. (2020). The roles of social media in tourist's choices of travel components. Sage: Tourist Studies, Vol. 20(Issue (1)), 27-48. doi:DOI:10.1177/1468797619873107
Zeng, B., & Gerritsen, R. (2014). What do we know about social media in Tourism?A Review. Tourism Management Perspectives, Vol 10, 27-36.
Cloete, G., Ndlovu, J., & Prabhakaran, S. (2024). Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of Social Media on Hospitality and Tourism Education in the Digital Age. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(11), 638–652.
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode