Travel writing

Generic overview of travel writing

Travel writing is a genre that has, as its focus, accounts of real or imaginary places. The genre encompasses a number of styles that may range from the documentary to the evocative, from literary to journalistic, and from the humorous to the serious.

Travel writing is often associated with tourism, and includes works of an ephemeral nature such as guide books, accommodation and restaurant and reviews, with the intent being to educate the reader about the destination, provide helpful advice for those visiting the destination, and inspire readers to travel to the destination.

Effective travel writing should allow readers a vivid recollection of the area/areas being described in a way that is informative, useful, timely as well as entertaining.

Travel writing of various degrees of quality may be found on websites, in magazines and in books. Learning how to write travel reports the CORRECT WAY is a skill worth learning. NZIBS offers training in this line for travelers and armchair travelers.

Travel writing has also been produced by other types of travelers, such as military personnel, missionaries, explorers, scientists, pilgrims, and migrants.

Travel writing which is valued as literature in its own right may be referred to as travel literature.

See also

• British Guild of Travel Writers
• Dolman Best Travel Book Award (begun 2006)
• Thomas Cook Travel Book Award (ran from 1980–2004)