TRAVEL VLOGGERS, PARASOCIAL INTERACTION, AND INDIVIDUAL CAPITAL

Digital media has transformed the way people discover and experience travel destinations. Travel vlogs have become more than personal records of journeys; they are digital stories through which creators share experiences, build audiences, and influence how destinations are perceived. This transformation reflects the shift from the static communication of Web 1.0 to the participatory and increasingly interactive environment of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0.

This book explores travel vlogging through the perspectives of parasocial interaction and individual capital. It examines how viewers develop connection, familiarity, trust, and affinity toward travel vloggers, and how attributes such as attraction, credibility, expertise, technological skill, engagement, respect, and empathy contribute to their influence. The discussion also connects travel vloggers with audiences, digital platforms, and destination marketers.

The book further addresses storytelling, authenticity, destination image, traveller decision making, and the ethical challenges of travel vlogging, including misinformation, cultural representation, overtourism, privacy, and creator wellbeing. It also considers emerging developments such as artificial intelligence, virtual influencers, immersive media, and smart tourism, providing a concise perspective on the evolving role of travel vloggers in contemporary tourism.