Literary Travel: Just the Ticket for Readers Looking for “Places [to] Go” by PortiaLily Taylor

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss

As Dr. Seuss wrote, “The more you read, the more things you will know.” And the variety of those many “things you will know” is infinite—serious issues, romantic endeavors, otherworldly locations. While you are learning through reading, Dr. Seuss promises “the more places you’ll go.”

Of course, most of those “places” are in your thoughts and daydreams. However, they may also be physical places that relate to the books and authors you are reading.

In fact, more and more people do more than simply bring a book to read while on vacation. They decide to go to “places” based on the books and authors they love. People commonly refer to this trend as literary travel. If you’re a book lover who enjoys travel, this may be just what you’re looking for in your next trip. And you definitely won’t be alone in the selection for this theme for your next journey.

The uptick in the literary travel trend began in the early days of Covid. The pandemic forced people to stay at home, and many chose to spend their hours reading. Reading and book sales surged. When travel started again, the hospitality industry sought ways to lure back travelers to hotels and cruises. Many of those companies latched onto the idea of including book-related activities in their marketing, such as author-access and book-themed retreats and cruises. Click here to read more.

As a result, the number of tourists involved in literary travel rose and continues to increase, as shown in a study by the British airlines Jet2. It found, “Millions of holidaymakers have chosen a destination based on a book they’ve read, with ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ by Frances Mayes the top inspiration.” Of the 2,000 British adults taking part in the study, one in four stated they booked a holiday in order to visit a location referenced in a novel. Some examples they gave were: Paris (Les Misérables by Victor Hugo), Venice (The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke), and Rome (Angels and Demons by Dan Brown).  Click here to read more about the study.

Of course, the more tourists, the more money spent on literary travel. According to Future Markets Insights, Inc. “The global literary tourism market size stands at USD 2,387.8 million in 2024, up from USD 2,316 million in 2023. The industry is progressing toward a valuation of USD 3,303.7 million by 2034, registering a CAGR of 3.3% through 2034.”  Click here to read more from Future Markets.

I’ve been a part of literary tourism before I even knew there was a term for such travel! I’ve blogged about some of my travels to literary destinations in posts I called “Where They Lived & Scribbled.” My title refers to a statement by Zac Thompson at Frommers.com in which he says “…there’s plenty to gain from visiting the places where [great authors] lived and scribbled.” My posts highlight trips to the homes and haunts of L. Frank Baum (Click here to read the post.), Ralph Ellison (Click here to read the post.), and Dylan Thomas (Click here to read the post.). As an admirer of their writing, I felt a greater connection to those authors when visiting locations where they “lived and scribbled.”

I hope you’re now considering travel to a literary destination. Perhaps you are a Louise Penny fan and would like a trip to the Quebec of her Inspecter Gamache novels. If you’re a reader of the Bronte sisters, you might wish to tour the English Lake District. If you want suggestions for your own literary destination, there’s help online. Check out Albion Gould’s website here.. Her recommendations include following Jack Kerouac across the U.S. per his On the Road travels and going to Romania to visit Bram Stoker’s Dracula inspirations. Even the American Library Association has state-by-state suggestions in its website here.

Lots of entities are available to help you. Some travel agencies specialize in domestic and international literary travel. Through a simple online search, I found the website of Literary Traveler found here.. Other more “general” travel services may be able to assist your plans. I’m working with JayWay Heritage Tours (http://jaywaytravel.com) regarding a future trip to Croatia. Local staff has helped me with my desire to visit sites related to Croatian authors, as well as those related to the setting of my next novel. Another approach would be to investigate Study Abroad programs offered by colleges and universities that are open to non-students, especially community members. For example, the English Department at Southern Utah University, where I used to teach, offered a two-week program in New Zealand based on Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

A far-away land may be the setting of your favorite book. A distant country may be the origin of your favorite author. Even if you enjoy a local author or a book set in your own city or state, actual travel to literary destinations may not be possible for you. So, I wanted to recommend a virtual trip. Maybe you would enjoy visiting a writer’s museum or a place connected to a novel’s setting or the author’s residence. Some example virtual tours are: Bronte sisters’ sites found here, the Roald Dahl museum linked here, and Ralph Ellison sites found here.

As you think about places related to the books you love and the authors you admire, remember what Dr. Seuss wrote. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” I hope those “places you’ll go” include literary travel destinations.

2024 PortiaLily Taylor