Is There a Future in Travel Writing?
We'd love to know your thoughts and opinions.
Last week, I spent time thinking about all things writing, especially in relation to the growing discourse on AI use and the ongoing degradation of travel writing. When I came across this article from Between the Dots, it made me question the purpose and future of publications like Road Life Adventure.
The author discusses how the internet and the rise of travel influencers have changed the way we travel, as well as the demise of great resources like Lonely Planet. One quote in particular that really stood out to me was this:
Travel now, much like the Lonely Planet, seems focused on curated images and scenic places to queue up and be amongst the hordes there to snap the perfect selfie.
Without a doubt, I have noticed a trend towards professionally curated and edited images, often accompanied by AI-generated writing that feels more like an inauthentic marketing message than heartfelt stories about adventure. It has become more about capturing likes than captivating an audience.
I have detested the standard kind of articles that many travel publications and writers have produced for years, the type of commoditized posts that simply reduce travel to a top ten list of places to see and check off, while pandering to the algorithms and search engine gods in order to be noticed. Sadly, I have also been guilty of these kinds of practices in the past, but I am fighting hard against them today.
During my time of contemplation, I fixated on whether travel writing in the future has any hope of sustainability or if it will be killed off by mass-produced content mostly created by machines, or destroyed by the dopamine hits provided by video. And there’s no denying that video killed the radio star!
It’s far easier for people these days to consume reels and shorts than to read a lengthy article, which is evidenced by the billions of views for travel-related videos and the insanely exponential growth of YouTube or TikTok. Humans are more inclined to be entertained by good-looking influencers on screen than to engage in the critical thinking required of diving into a good book, guide, or publication. This is not a slam on those who prefer video to reading, but a testament to how culture has changed since the internet’s inception.
Ultimately, this is why Donetta and I attempted to complement our writing endeavors and gain traction with our YouTube channel.
Yet as we tried to plan, film, edit, and publish our videos, it became quite overwhelming, and honestly, felt inauthentic because the focus was on entertaining viewers rather than inspiring them to step away from the screen to seek their own adventure. It also kept us from being present in the moment. So we put it on pause.
The same can be said for Instagram. We deleted our Road Life Adventure account because it was a stagnant recollection of mostly curated images designed to get likes.
Thankfully, millions of people love to read, which is good news, because we truly love writing about and sharing our experiences with you. Still, this leads me to ask an important question and to seek your input.
What compels you to want to read about travel?
I’m very curious as to what draws you in the most and makes you want to learn more, in addition to subscribing to any travel publication on Substack or other platforms.
Of course, it can be all of these, a combination, or none, but this poll feature doesn’t give me enough options, so I’ll concentrate on one thing. If you have additional input, I sincerely appreciate it if you drop it in the comments section below.
When I consider the enshitification of the travel and hospitality industry as a whole, paired with the demise of great writing and the increase of AI-produced content, it is extremely valuable to gather feedback. Donetta and I dream of building a future here and someday earning a living from travel writing and our Road Life Adventure brand, but we also don’t want it to become like every other curated experience online, either.
Is there a future in travel writing? Please tell us what you think.
Every person who responds and shares their input will be entered into a drawing for a free gift from our online store, which will also be getting a facelift, new products, and hand-drawn artwork made by yours truly soon.
Thank you for reading!
I am a travel writer and am considering stopping later this year. One of the publications I write for has such a stringent writing policy that there is no joy in trying to tell my story the way I want. It’s all about getting views. However, I get hosted stays by being published at this publication. And it’s unpaid. Ho hum.
Hi James,
I think the problem with trying to make anything close to a living from a travel blog these days is that the barrier to entry has become so low. Even just 10 years ago, documenting and sharing your travel adventures required at least a little bit of technical know-how and often a monetary investment. Now, just about anybody can learn (relatively easily) how to use a site like Substack and start posting literally that same day without spending a dime.
From a reader/consumer perspective, it's hard to justify paying anybody for stories and information about travel locations when I can probably find a dozen or more similar accounts in 5 minutes or less without breaking out my credit card.