The influence of social networks and the internet in the choice of tourist destination: the case of Serra da Estrela

Information plays a fundamental role in an economic sector with the characteristics of tourism, being, naturally, greatly influenced by social networks. Currently, the widespread use of these virtual platforms, as well as their exponential growth, with the emergence of new social networks, are causing changes in the search for tourist destinations as well as in the promotion of the destinations themselves. This paper focuses on one of the most emblematic Portuguese tourist destinations, Serra da Estrela, the main national winter sports destination, aiming to understand a set of aspects related to the use of social networks as a search tool for tourist destinations, as well as what is the influence of the internet and social networks in the choice of a tourist destination.