10. Reaching the Stakeholders: Social Media and the Administration of Tourism in Bangladesh

The results and effectivity of technology in tourism administration is unprecedented. Social media as a technology application can play a crucial role in both attracting and managing visitors in destinations in a developing country like Bangladesh. The country has promising tourism destinations that require considerable attention in terms of promotion and administration. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) and Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) occupy pioneering positions towards the structural and promotional upkeep of Bangladesh tourism. These organisations behold the national pride and support the entire tourism sector of the country. Both BPC and BTB are said to have adopted social networks as a tool for promotion and administration. However, the effectiveness of social media can be questionable in promoting and administering tourist attractions. This is significant particularly when information sharing and communication between the authorities and beneficiaries remain crucial. This chapter aims to outline the interaction of social media networks in tourism destination promotion and administration. This study also offers some policy recommendations to better guide the use of social networks for tourism development. Results outline that social media network can be purposive not only for tourism promotion and administration but also supports the process of information sharing and keep stakeholders informed about various services and offerings at destinations.