To understand the new terrain, Foreign Office officials even spent £ 3.60 of taxpayers’ cash on an “idiot’s manual” in London. A Freedom of Information request revealed they also snapped up a stack of Lonely Planet publications to research places abroad.
They spent £377 on maps despite gaining access to free Google Maps online.
From January 2016 to December 2018, the Foreign Office spent £2,411.94 on manual books and £377 on maps. This included a map of primary London and more than £80 on maps of the arena. In September 2016, officers forked out £42. Ninety-six for a wall map of Mecca – Islam’s holiest city – in Saudi Arabia.
The spending changed into blasted by a former British diplomat.
He stated, “It might look like a small trade, but you’ve got to wish at this time that Britain’s global family members aren’t reliant on the contemporary version of Lonely Planet. I’ve nothing against the courses. However, after I became in Asia, we’d rely upon an embassy team of workers and attend to matters ourselves, even though we most effectively desired to know where to get a drink.
A Foreign Office spokesman stated: “Following an internal overview of tour publications in March 2016, we do not purchase print versions. However, some of our workers based in remote places find it helpful to have an easy digital guide when they’re in London for occasions or training.” Online Travel has caught the fancy of internet-savvy travelers, so the online travel market is booming. No wonder that online Travel is one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide. India is also not left behind in this race, according to industry Pundits Online.
The travel Market in India would be worth around US $ 6 Billion.
As a logical extension to such buoyancy, Travel Guides has shown a steady rise to move online and, in the process, fulfill the needs of niche readers. Both traditional print brands and purely cyber entities are slogging it out to grab the attention of this niche segment. Furthermore, after their initial reluctance, the publishers of print brands have also started embracing the web and publishing all their content online.
Let’s take a look at what the Travel Guides offer. Travel guides have become a necessary tool for anyone considering a vacation. A Travel Guide is full of helpful advice, precise information, good ideas, etc., besides being well-written, well-laid, and indexed. These City-centric guides provide information on all aspects of travel. You can get good information on how to reach attractions, excursions, festivals, history, and accommodations, like lodges, hotels, resorts, and bed-and-breakfasts. Convenient maps make it easy for newcomers to pinpoint any destination exactly.
An ideal Travel guide should also briefly outline the recreational and more mundane activities of life that can be done in a particular city. Another important aspect generally missed is the city’s public transport where a traveler lands. A genuine Travel Guide should also give precise information about public transport, highlighting bus routes, Cabs, and Auto fares. Another important aspect of a City Guide is to have a semblance of balanced information. This is important because travel can be both for business and for both.
Pros and cons of Online Travel Guides
More and more people are researching the internet. As a result, Online Travel Guides have become quite popular compared to their print counterparts. However, both brands have their own advantages and limitations.
