Is the travel book business running out of road?
In the UK, Telegraph.co.uk reports “AA ceases to commission travel guide books” – but, as so often, the headline doesn’t quite match the story.
That story is one in which the UK Automobile Association’s AA Publishing division (Britain’s largest travel publisher) is beating a tactical, partial retreat from publishing some city and country travel books in paper form.
It has frozen commissions for new such books and is “currently focussing resources on delivering…information across multiple digital platforms”, it told Telegraph.co.uk.
The story is yet another one of urgent print-to-digital transition. AA Publishing clarified for paidContent:
@RobertAndrews We’re still doing physical annual lifestyle guides (Pubs, Hotels, Restaurants etc) but also beefing up digital stuff.
@RobertAndrews We’re still doing physical annual lifestyle guides (Pubs, Hotels, Restaurants etc) but also beefing up digital stuff.
— AA Publishing (@AAPublishing) June 12, 2012
@RobertAndrews The travel guides are more complex. We’re stopping most travel titles, but looking at multiple platforms as Katie mentioned.
— AA Publishing (@AAPublishing) June 12, 2012
@RobertAndrews And we’re also doing those ‘travel narrative’ books too, like Uke of Wallington & Idle Traveller etc.
— AA Publishing (@AAPublishing) June 12, 2012
@RobertAndrews We’re doing ebook versions of more and more titles for kindle/ipad etc as well as apps/online delivery. It’s exciting times.
— AA Publishing (@AAPublishing) June 12, 2012
AA Publishing already makes available several iPhone apps for its map-based products. But, whereas Lonely Planet has long been offering its city guide books in app form, AA Publishing has none.
It is here, together with the e-book opportunity, that the publisher seems likely to focus the digital effort.
Meanwhile, it seems sensible that certain classes of book remain suited to remaining printed.