Fake news, false advertising, social media, and the tourism industry

Fake news is a relatively new term that has garnered much attention globally. It has been held as a distinct and identifiable phenomenon and has been defined by many academicians, igniting a scholarly debate. This research paper reflects on ‘Fake News' by discussing the term itself and then reflecting on its impacts on the tourism industry. As ‘Fake News' tends to be effectively absorbed by audiences through social media, a link is established between social media and ‘Fake News’ advertising. This paper further explores the role that news plays in our everyday lives and the impact of fake news on the tourism industry. The impacts of ‘Fake News' on the industry in general are reviewed and discussed. The paper establishes a link between ‘Fake News' and social media and reveals how ‘Fake News' is at times purposefully adopted by destinations as a means of providing a positive image rather than a negative one. This raises further ethical questions and raises doubt of the legality of such purposeful doings. Tourism during the recent Covid 19 pandemic is also explored as destinations have opted for uncommon means of promoting their tourism industry through extreme measures of ‘Fake News'.