Eureka! Institutional Repository

Tourism is a complex industry and, undoubtedly an important source of wealth. Its various forms, consequently, contribute to the development of the regions and their financial viability. Conference tourism and its institutions are the backbone on which this paper is based on. The contribution of the Convention and Visitors Bureaus to the promotion and elevation of a tourist destination is of major importance. As organizations, they are responsible for representing a specific destination and helping the long-term development of the community through a structured tourism strategy (according to the World Tourism Organization). The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate how this strategy has evolved, or has to evolve through the new Internet marketing tools. In particular, we examine the best practices of major European CVBs in social media and how they influence the emergence and development of the regions as a whole.