What's Happening?
Lonely Planet has introduced a new series of travel guides aimed at children, titled 'A Kid’s Guide To...'. These guides are designed to inspire young readers by introducing them to various global destinations they might visit with their families or learn about out of curiosity. The series includes guides for cities like New York City, Paris, London, and Rome, with upcoming editions for Japan and Italy. Unlike the traditional dense text of adult guidebooks, these children's guides feature colorful layouts, photos, and fun facts that appeal to kids' interests, such as the largest playgrounds or the coolest roller coasters. The guides also include practical sections like 'how to use this book', which provide overview maps and local phrases. The publisher
encourages booksellers to shelve these guides alongside adult travel books, offering children their own version of the familiar Lonely Planet guides.
Why It's Important?
This initiative by Lonely Planet is significant as it aims to cultivate a sense of adventure and curiosity in children from a young age. By providing accessible and engaging content, these guides can help foster a lifelong interest in travel and cultural exploration. This could have broader implications for the travel industry, as it may encourage family travel and increase demand for child-friendly travel experiences. Additionally, by placing these guides alongside adult versions, Lonely Planet is positioning travel as a family-inclusive activity, potentially influencing how travel is marketed and consumed. This approach not only broadens the audience for travel literature but also supports educational development by encouraging children to learn about geography, history, and cultural diversity.
