Most Travel Guide Books Written With In-Depth Knowledge

Most travel guide books have been written by authors who have in-depth knowledge of the country, according to one expert.

Travel guide publisher Footprint has defended the quality of these types of publications, after a Lonely Planet writer Thomas Kohnstamm revealed last month that he wrote about Columbia without ever visiting the country.

Andy Riddle, managing director of Footprint, said: "Most guide books have authors who really know the country inside out and this shines through when you are on the road, using the books.

"It can be hard to tell the difference between competing guides when you are in a book store, but when you are travelling the quality of the author's research really tells."

According to a piece of travel guide market research, called 'Who buys travel guides' published by photographer Jim Batty in 2006, the average consumer of these publications are aged between 25 and 34-years-old.

Furthermore, they are likely to have a professional, managerial or administrative job and be juggling a family with further study to progress their careers.

Travel Industry News posted on 02/05/2008 13:00:34