TRAVEL WRITING
• Travel writers write about places they have
visited, describing their journeys to and
within these places.
• Travel articles are usually focused on a place-
usually a city, town or village.
• Sometimes, the focus on the place can be
broader, such as a state, country or region.
• It can also be narrowed down to a
neighbourhood or locality.
VARIOUS KINDS OF TRAVEL ARTICLES
• Depends on the kind of publication you are writing for.
• Journalistic writing (where you write independently for
a newspaper or magazine)
• Commercial writing (where you write for a company to
promote their services).
• There are famous magazines dedicated to travel, and
carry feature articles that describe popular destinations.
• Travel blogging is also a popular place to showcase this
writing. This may either be on your personal blog or on
one of many online publications that are around.
• Travel agencies, government tourism programmes, and
travel industry service providers (such as airlines and
hotels) look for travel articles to use as promotional
material.
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• Depending on the kind of article you are writing and
its intended audience, travel writing may include the
following elements.
• 1.A Description of the Place-Open your article by
naming the place it is going to focus on. Although the
entire article is going to be about it, begin with a
brief one- or two-sentence description.
• At various points in the article, add descriptions of
the place, its atmosphere, its general architecture,
and other observations that give the reader a mind's-
eye picture.
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• 2.Routes, Approach and Accessibility-Describe
how to reach the place by road, rail and air. If the
area has unusual topographical features, mention
them.
• Mention the closest cities or towns that can be
approached by road, rail and air, and describe
how and where transportation to the destination
can be obtained.
• Be inclusive in your writing. For example,
mention travel services and accommodation for
disabled travellers.
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• 3.Recommendations for Places to Visit, Eat and
Stay- The most popular part of a travel article
tends to be its coverage of the tourist spots the
area is famous for.
• Nowadays, travellers and readers also look for
good places to visit that are not 'touristy' or
crowded-places popular with locals rather than
with tourists.
• This list can include heritage spots, museums,
places of worship, gardens, beaches and other
architectural or natural wonders.
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• In addition to these, potential visitors also require
information about places to stay and
recommended restaurants and eateries.
• Give specific information where possible,
especially for the latter, and mention famous
local cuisine and popular delicacies.
• 4.Weather, Local Language and Culture-Give
information about the weather conditions
(temperature, humidity, rainfall, snowfall, etc.),
and recommendations for clothing and other
accessories that travellers should carry.
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• Note the local languages spoken and understood
in the area, and how difficult it might be for a
visitor who does not know any of these languages.
• Add significant information about the local
culture, such as important festivals and how to be
respectful or courteous.
• 5.Safety and Precautions-Describe any specific
precautions that travellers need to take-for
instance, if they need to avoid travelling alone in
certain parts of the city at night.
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• If there are no specific things to mention, you
may give general safety etiquette reminders
for travellers (for example, to always carry
their personal documents, have emergency
points of contact, and so on).
• Contact information for first-responder
services can also be provided.
• 6.Photographs-
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• Photos are an important part of a travel article, as
they capture the essence of the place and add
colour to the piece.
• Make sure to use representative photos, and of
key landmarks that readers might recognise.
• Avoid nondescript photos-for example, of
unidentifiable roads, crowds of people, etc.
• If you are using photos taken by others or
downloaded images, make sure to credit the
original photographer.
ELEMENTS OF TRAVEL WRITING
• 7.Closing Remarks-The article can close with
your overall impression of the place.
• Suggest the best time to travel to the place
(taking into consideration weather, crowds of
visitors, etc.).
• Mention a recommended trip length-how
many days are required to cover the place-
and a tentative budget.
