Globalization and the Travel Industry

“The world is changing in such unpredictable ways and will continue to become more and more unpredictable as we move through this century. All we can say with a fair amount of certainty is that the speed of change will become faster and faster—it is very unlikely to slow down” (Yunus 248).

We all know a lot of things have changed in the world in the past several decades and the travel industry is no exception. The internet brought on a new type of booking where consumers could easily cut out the middle man and go directly to the source themselves. Add into this the fact that airlines stopped paying commissions, which caused travel agents to start charging fees, and suddenly everyone has become a travel expert. If you can point and click, you can book travel. And that was before the world of tablets, smart phones and Apps.

Social Media Abounds

 “Social media has increased the ability to communicate exponentially, in new and more immediate ways.” – George Rimalower

 

For this week’s blog, I returned to one of the most successful bloggers online today, Tim Leffel of cheapestdestinationsblog.com. While he is a huge supporter of online, digital publication and believes “We are clearly in a transition phase right now with media and there are two sides to the story.” He is also mourning the loss of the way things have traditionally been done for many years. He continues, “On one hand the destruction side, where the print and network broadcast world we’ve known for more than half a century is crumbling down around us…Some see a threat in this transition, others see a huge opportunity” (Leffel 87).

Writing for a travel audience

In travel writing, you must know your market above all else. The reason is two fold. First, it is important to know your market because you are offering advice to those who may have never been to a particular destination. Second, it’s important to know your market, because as a travel writer, you are part of a discourse community filled with other travel writers, who may very well be reading your work. And they will not hesitate to call you on it if you get something wrong.

A Community of Travel Writers

Today, more than ever, it’s important to find a common ground, a group of peers that can relate to you and your ideal and offer assistance and encouragement in your endeavors. We are quickly becoming a society that is dependent upon technology. Gone are the days of sitting around the table, whether at home or in the office, and they are being replaced with online meetings, emails and live chat sessions instead.

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An Inside Look Into the World of Travel Writing

HISTORY

In 1989 my Mom went to travel school at the age of forty-five. She hadn’t been to school since her high school graduation, had worked little in her life other than raising her five children and could only type 12 WPM. But, when times got tight and she knew we would be needing a second income, she chose to get a career instead of a just a job. Having dreamed of being a flight attendant as a teenager, she was still drawn to the travel industry. So when she saw the ad for the International Air Academy in Vancouver, WA she knew it was time to give it a try. It took some doing, but she managed to secure the loans to attend the three month program, hoping to go to work as a gate agent upon graduation. So, at forty-five, she got dressed in her best clothes, took a deep breath and walked into a classroom full of students, mostly in their early twenties or younger. It was terrifying, but looking back, it was the best decision she ever made. Not only for herself, but for her children too.