Skift Take
VirtualTourist demonstrates that both it and the contributors it values the most still don't understand the difference between the legitimate press and those who write press releases.
The distinctions between press and bloggers have long broken down, but now TripAdvisor's VirtualTourist, in the name of user-generated content and self-promotion, is trying to turn the contributors it values most into mouthpieces for a sponsor.
VirtualTourist, which offers travel guides and a traveler community, has teamed with Contiki Vacations to hand out VirtualTourist Blogger Press Passes to Contiki travelers who register for Virtual Tourist and post on the site about their travel adventures.
VirtualTourist says its goal is to give holders of the VT Blogger Press Pass access to media-only events and destinations so they can write pos
