 On the Road with ‘Bookstore Tourism’
by Larry Portzline
How many times have you gone to another town, walked into an independent bookstore that you've never visited before, and were overwhelmed by how tremendously cool and unique it was?
Booklovers who travel with any frequency are quite familiar with that
feeling - the rush of adrenaline as they scan the new-release table, the
thrill of finding a first edition they've been looking for, the luxury
of reading a chapter or two in a cozy, out-of-the-way corner.
In fact,
many bibliophiles make a habit of seeking out local bookshops
wherever they go, whether they're on an overnight business trip or a two-week
jaunt across Europe.
The growing ‘Bookstore Tourism’ concept taps into this thirst for literary adventure. It's a new grassroots travel niche that encourages booklovers to plan day-trips and other literary outings to cities and towns with fun and interesting bookshops that people in their own communities may not otherwise have an opportunity to visit.
The benefits of Bookstore Tourism are enormous:
- It raises the profile of independent bookstores;
- It provides outreach opportunities for reading groups, schools, libraries,
and other organizations;
- And just as important, it promotes reading and literacy.
Imagine how much enjoyment your group or organization would get out of
planning a ‘bookstore road trip.’ It doesn't matter if it's five people
in a minivan or 50 people on a chartered bus - with a little research and
planning, you too can ride the Bookstore Tourism wave!
Larry Portzline is
the author of Bookstore
Tourism: The Book Addict's Guide to Planning & Promoting Bookstore Road Trips for Bibliophiles & Other
Bookshop Junkies. Visit bookstoretourism.com for more details.
5 Easy Ways to Get on Board with Bookstore Tourism |
