Analysis of The Lonely Planet - Book Report/Review Example

Study of Book Essay: The Lonely Planet Insert name Institution Tutor Date Introduction The lonely planet is the largest travel guidebook in the world and it includes elicit travel instructions as well as advice to the all travelers and tourists. Moreover, it is the most established digital publisher in the line of electronics and most of their services in precise focus on the travel issues. The literature review surrounding this book is not well established, as critics from various scholars seem to outweigh the research efforts in the evaluation of the impacts and influence of this book to the entire society. This paper will discuss the theoretical, political and the industrial sectors that have been brought about by the variance in the trend of the book all the way from the production to the circulation and finally the consumption rate. The paper will discuss the emerging issues surrounding the lonely planet guidebook and will identify the existing gaps and controversies that have been brought forward. As a result, the paper will provide relevant information to the scholars and the researcher as it future trends will be well spelt out in the recommendations and the implementations that should be laid by the political institutions. The paper is a significant source of literature that can be adapted now by the public as well by the future generations. Theoretical background Tony and Maureen wheelers who had been involved in so many journeys originally wrote the lonely planet guidebook but this key book was a product of the one from Europe to South Asia. This first book in Asia was published in 1973, and it targeted the youth who were engaged in the travel activities especially in Australia (Eliot, Simon & Jonathan 2007). The circulation of the series was well pronounced especially in Asia due to the well-outlined advices and the travel instructions and incorporation of the low-income travelers. Due to the high market penetration there were so many companies that were interested in the purchase of this book but the tender was won by the British Broadcasting Corporation (Andrew & Ian 2007). The circulation penetrated the Europe and North American regions, which led to expansion in the production sector. The lonely planet book was further differentiated to the digital products like televisions that further increased the circulation of the product. For instance, websites and other blogs were established and could be accessible via the online by all the willing travelers. In addition, the target group further expanded from the low income earners to the very affluent. This independent publisher produced about 500 copies that are written in eight different languages when it was owned by its authors but by the beginning of this year, it was selling 100 million copies. There are other people that contributed to its acquisition but after the purchase by the BBC, they are only allowed to contribute on the book reviews and editing (Finkelstein and Alistair, 2005). The publishers especially in the instance of negative critics facing the book to provide a professional intervention can consult the authors. The theoretical approach mainly explains the historical background the trend of the lonely planet guidebook in the context of the association that has existed in the past as well as the present and the future prospects (Baker 2002). The study of the history that surrounds this book is very important, as it is the measure of the success as well as the evaluation stage especially in the recommendation of the future trend (Chia, Lucille & Hilde Weerdt 2011). This is because we are able to see whether the business has been successful as well as identify the existing gaps that must be bridged to discover ultimate success. It also defines the association of the variables that surround the lonely planet guide book thereby setting the basis of the implementation and recommendation measures depending on the impact it had in past as it should be improved in the maximum possible extent. Political dimension The book is well governed by the existing policies in the governing institutions and further promotes the exercise of the policies among the population. This can be well understood by the obedience of all the laws that are required in its operation and the continued call for political stability among all the states that would like to encourage tourism industry (Murray 2007). This is because the guidebook advices the travelers or the tourists that are willing to visit a particular country depending on the security or political situation. This can be the best explanation as to why the countries involved in political war experience low tourism season despite the summer period and attractive scenery (Maclean & Lory 2002). This book company has its headquarters in Melbourne in Australia and therefore must comply with the lawsuit that is practiced in the region. There are also offices of the company in London and California that a way of ensuring differentiation as well as compliance with the international law at different levels. The political influence must not only be in obedience of the lawsuits but also in the promotion of the business ethics (Howsam & Leslie 2006). This would include tax payments, business permits as well as corporate social responsibility. In fact, the book was involved in a climate change campaign that involved creation of awareness about the effects of climate change and the measures that can be undertaken in the mitigation of such global disasters. The book contributed to the Kyoto agreement that was to reduce the gas emissions by 5% in the next five years and went forth to mention the top five world polluters (Dane & Joseph 2010). Industrial approach The influence of the book to the entire population is two way and can be positive as well as negative. Positive impact could be well felt by the tourism docket as it is directly proportional to the market penetration of the lonely planet guidebook. People would be more willing to tour places that they have slight information about, as they would be sure of their safety. Moreover, the guidebook advertises the existing scenery in specific countries that will definitely trigger the urge for tour among most people in the world. For instance, the guidebook documents the migration of the wild beasts in Eastern Africa and the tourists who access such information that they did not know would be interested in touring Africa. In addition, most of the travelling will involve air transport there by adding more revenue to the air industry (Delbert & Ronald 1997). Because of travel most people become well convalescent with the involved state and would be willing to invest in states they like that would subsequently lead to the development of trade networks. There are however negative impacts of the travel industry that is well promoted by the lonely planet guidebook. There are critics on the cultural as well as moral erosion that is brought about by the travel industry. The growth of the related industries will also mean increase in the market penetration of the lonely planet guidebook. The growth in the industry has further led to diverse in the methods of reading as well as storage of the heritage (Holman & Valerie 2008). This has led to the provision of more refined information that and the traveler can access the information that is relevant at a particular time. This is because there is a diverse technology that ensures quick accessibility of the information and its modification as well as efficient storage of the information for example what is in the national archives can also be accessed via online services (Feather & John 2007). The industrial sector is an explanation of the integrative nature of the lonely planet company and explains that the company cannot be segmented whatsoever. This is because there is a strong correlation between the society and the company and the people will only feel the impacts that are negative or positive (Galligan 2007). There are also other travel corporations, that are less competitive than the lonely planet guidebook and I would suggest that they should also be supported to growth and expansion as this would only be added success to the population (Darnton & Robert 1990). Conclusion The lonely planet guidebook has so many influences on entire society especially because it is a dynamic industry rather that a static one. Despite the inadequacy in the study of the variables that are well linked to this book as well as the mutual correlation association, it is evident that so much time is wasted on the critics that are mainly negative rather that promoting the positive ones. It is notable that the company is on escalation and therefore the business promotion of the related sectors can be well realized if only properly articulated. The differentiation and diversity of the company is a good sign of the future success in not only the travel industry but also the overall economic growth (Miller 2007). Measures that should therefore be implemented should be those that will further promote differentiation that will lead to growth and not the ones that are likely to discourage the growth of the book. The government institutions should be more focused in formulating and implementing the strategies that will lead to more strength of lonely planet guidebook and should be supportive in the realization of the goals and objectives set by the company. This could be directly like in the case of setting policies that will favor the industry of the lonely planet guidebook and financial support or indirectly as in the case sponsoring some of the activities by the industry. For example, the government could be involved in the creation of awareness campaigns that will increase the market penetration leading to overall growth and expansion. Bibliography Andrew .N, and Ian .W 2007, Literary Cultures and the Material Book, London: London press Barker, N 2002, Form and Meaning in the History of the Book . British Library Studies in the History of the Book. London: British Library Publishing Chia .O, Lucille .M, and Weerdt. H 2011, Knowledge and Text Production in an Age of Print: China, 900-1400, Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Academic press Dane, L & Joseph, A 2010, Out of Sorts: On Typography and Print Culture. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Press. Darnton. B & Robert, R 1990, ‘First Steps Toward a History of Reading, New York: Norton press Deibert, T & Ronald , J 1997, Parchment, Printing, and Hypermedia: Communication in World Order Transformation, New York: Columbia press. Eliot .H, Simon. F, and Jonathan, R 2007, A Companion to The History of the Book, Oxford: Blackwell press. Feather, J & John. K 2007, A Companion to the History of the Book, Oxford: Blackwell press. Finkelstein .D, and Alistair, M 2005, An Introduction to Book History, London and New York: Routledge press Galligan, A 2007, ‘The Culture of the Publishing House: Structure and Strategies in the Australian Publishing Industry.’ Making Books: Contemporary Australian Publishing, Eds David Carter and Anne Galligan. Brisbane: U of Queensland P. 34-50. Holman .G & Valerie. F 2008, Print for Victory: Book Publishing in England, London: British Library Publishers. Howsam .H, & Leslie. T 2006, Old Books and New Histories: An Orientation to Studies in Book and Print Culture, Studies in Book and Print Culture, Toronto: Toronto Press. Maclean . K, Lory. H 2002, Lonely planet guide book, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Press. Miller, T 2007, “Drowning in Information and Starving for Knowledge”: 21st-Century Scholarly Publishing.’ Southern Review: Communication, Politics & Culture, ‘The Politics of Publishing’ special issue, 40 (1): 25-40. Murray, S 2007, ‘Generating Content: Book Publishing as a Component Media Industry.’Making Books: Contemporary Australian Publishing, Eds David Carter and Anne Galligan. Brisbane:University of Queensland Press. 51-67. Read More