Travel Industry Writers, Editors Share Insights and Optimism

A recent survey conducted by Louis Karno & Company Communications polled 100 American writers, editors and freelancers to offer an insider perspective on the industry. The survey asked: Where is travel writing headed in the short term, and what were they working on?

When asked what they were planning to report on and write about in the near future, only 10 percent mentioned summer 2020 as a topic of focus. One respondent said 60 percent of summer bookings (arranged by an adventure tour operator in the American West) were still on — many of which are private houses, insinuating families might keep travel plans local and with safety measures.

Three out of 10 responders said they are writing about “where people will travel to when all this is over” and the biggest concern seems to be safety when travel is possible. About 33 percent of responders predict staycations and road trips will trend over international vacations.

Additionally, 25 percent said they don’t plan on writing future articles about COVID-19 or virtual travel. However, 10 percent are still producing some version of “COVID-19 tales.”

The survey also revealed 20 percent of those surveyed have either been laid off or are working on fewer projects at the moment due to tourism being at an all-time low.

A low percentage of the respondents (10 percent) said they will cover places they’ve been before (as they currently can’t travel); another 30 percent are eager to write about new projects, such as the adaptation of travel and the new normal. These new projects can be stories, including what hotels, tour companies, airlines, destinations and travel agents are doing now to prepare to reopen, along with international travel, health measures and statistics on what travelers will look for.

The data revealed most surveyed are focusing their work on the post-COVID-19 era, as the majority of respondents are more interested in covering parts of the world that partially, or entirely, removed coronavirus — as well as working on new projects and trends arising out of the current state of travel.