Lonely Planet China is your ticket to one of the most appropriate, updated suggestions on what to see and also avoid, as well as what covert explorations await you. Try dumplings in Beijing, visit the Great Wall or travel down the Yangzi River; all with your trusted travel companion. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - China - Lonely Planet travel video. Lonely Planet. Unsubscribe from Lonely Planet? Cancel Unsubscribe. Subscribe Subscribed Unsubscribe.
(Redirected from Lonely Planet Six Degrees)
Parent company | Lonely Planet Global, Inc. |
---|---|
Founded | 1972 |
Founders | Tony Wheeler Maureen Wheeler |
Country of origin | Australia |
Headquarters location | Franklin, Tennessee |
Distribution |
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Key people | |
Publication types | Books Mobile apps Video Magazine |
Nonfiction topics | Travel guides |
Owner(s) | Brad Kelley |
No. of employees | 400 staff, 200 authors[2] |
Official website | www.lonelyplanet.com |
Maureen and Tony Wheeler, co-founders of Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is a large travel guide book publisher.[3] As of 2011, the company had sold 120 million books since inception and by early 2014, it had sold around 11 million units of its travel apps.[4][needs update]
- 1History
History[edit]
Early years[edit]
Lonely Planet was founded by married couple Maureen and Tony Wheeler. In 1972, embarked on an overland trip through Europe and Asia to Australia, following the route of the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition.[5][6]
The company name originates from the misheard 'lovely planet' in a song written by Matthew Moore.[7] Lonely Planet's first book, Across Asia on the Cheap,[8] had 94 pages, was written by the couple in their home.[9] The original print run consisted of stapled booklets.[10]
Tony returned to Asia to write Across Asia on the Cheap: A Complete Guide to Making the Overland Trip, published in 1975.[11]
Expansion[edit]
Lonely Planet's Australia guide, 16th edition (2011)
The Lonely Planet guide book series initially expanded in Asia, with the India guide book in 1981,[12] and expanded to rest of the world.[4]Geoff Crowther was renowned for frequently inserting his opinions into the text of the guides he wrote. His writing was instrumental to the rise of Lonely Planet. The journalist used the term 'Geoffness', in tribute to Crowther, to describe a quality that has been lost in travel guides.[9]
By 1999, Lonely Planet had sold 30 million copies of its travel guides. The company's authors consequently benefited from profit-sharing and expensive events were held at the Melbourne office, at which limousines would arrive, filled with Lonely Planet employees.[4]
Wheelers' sale to BBC[edit]
In 2007, the Wheelers and John Singleton sold a 75% stake in the company to BBC Worldwide, worth an estimated £63 million at the time.[9] The company was publishing 500 titles and ventured into television production. BBC Worldwide struggled following the acquisition, registering a £3.2 million loss in the year to the end of March 2009. By the end of March 2010, profits of £1.9 million had been generated, as digital revenues had risen 37% year-on-year over the preceding 12 months, a Lonely Planet magazine had grown and non-print revenues increased from 9% in 2007 to 22%. Lonely Planet's digital presence included 140 apps and 8.5 million unique users for lonelyplanet.com, which hosted the Thorn Tree travel forum.[13] BBC Worldwide acquired the remaining 25% of the company for £42.1 million (A$67.2 million) from the Wheelers.[14]
BBC's sale to NC2[edit]
By 2012 BBC wanted to divest itself of the company and in March 2013 confirmed the sale of Lonely Planet to Kelley's NC2 Media for US$77.8 million (£51.5 million)—, at nearly an £80 million (US$118.89 million) loss.[15]
Lonely Planet's former headquarters in Footscray
Products[edit]
Lonely Planet's online community, the Thorn Tree,[16] was created in 1996. It is named for a Naivasha thorn tree (Acacia xanthophloea) that has been used as a message board for the city of Nairobi, Kenya since 1902.[17] The tree still exists in the Stanley Hotel, Nairobi. It is used by over 600,000 travelers to share their experiences and look for advice. Thorn Tree has many different forum categories including different countries, places to visit depending on one's interests, travel buddies, and Lonely Planet support.
In 2009, Lonely Planet began publishing a monthly travel magazine called Lonely Planet Traveller. It is available in digital versions for a number of countries.[18]
Lonely Planet also had its own television production company, which has produced series, such as Globe Trekker, Lonely Planet Six Degrees, and Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled.[19] Toby Amies and Asha Gill ( both British TV presenters ) took part in the Lonely Planet Six degrees.[citation needed]
Controversies[edit]
A mention in a Lonely Planet guidebook can draw large numbers of travellers, which changes places mentioned. For example, Lonely Planet has been blamed for the rise of what is sometimes referred to as 'the Banana Pancake Trail' in South East Asia.[20][21]
In 1996, in response to a 'Visit Myanmar' campaign by the Burmese military government, the Burmese opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for a tourism boycott.[22] As the publication of Lonely Planet's guidebook to Myanmar (Burma) is seen by some as an encouragement to visit that country, this led to calls for a boycott of Lonely Planet.[23] Lonely Planet's view is that it highlights the issues surrounding a visit to the country, and that it wants to make sure that readers make an informed decision.[24] In 2009, the NLD formally dropped its previous stance and now welcomes visitors 'who are keen to promote the welfare of the common people'.[22]
In March 2019, Lonely Planet posted a video in Facebook falsely claiming that the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines were created by 'Chinese', leading to criticism. The magazine later tweeted in April 2019 that their Facebook video was indeed 'misleading', and that they would update the next Philippines book edition, but will not pull out current editions that already wrongfully state that the terraces were made by the Chinese.[25][26]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Trade
- ^'About Us'. Lonely Planet. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^Fildes, Nic (2 October 2007). 'BBC gives Lonely Planet guides a home in first major acquisition'. The Independent. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ abcCharles Bethea (27 March 2014). 'The 25-Year-Old at the Helm of Lonely Planet'. Outside Magazine. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^'Asia's overland route'. LiveJournal. 20 July 2006. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^MacLean, Rory (2007). Magic bus: on the hippie trail from Istanbul to India. Penguin Books. ISBN978-0-14-101595-8.
- ^Wheeler, Tony; Wheeler, Maureen (2007). Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story. Periplus Editions. ISBN978-0-7946-0523-0.
- ^'Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd'. fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ abcCarole Cadwalladr (7 October 2007). 'Journey's end for the guidebook gurus?'. The Observer. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^Emily Brennan (7 June 2013). 'A Lonely Planet Founder Looks Back'. The New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^Tony Wheeler (1975). Across Asia on the Cheap: A Complete Guide to Making the Overland Trip. Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN978-0-9598080-2-5.
- ^Steves, Rick (24 November 2007). 'Tony Wheeler's 'Lonely Planet''. ricksteves.com. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
- ^Mark Sweney (18 February 2011). 'BBC to buy out Lonely Planet'. The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^'BBC takes last slice of Planet'. The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^Eric Pfannner (19 March 2013). 'U.S. Buyer for BBC's Book Unit on Travel'. The New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^'Thorn Tree Travel Forum'. Lonely Planet. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^Mary Fitzpatrick; Tim Bewer; Matthew Firestone (2009). East Africa. Lonely Planet. p. 290. ISBN978-1-74104-769-1.
- ^Clampet, Jason (3 November 2014). 'Skift Forum Video: Lonely Planet's CEO on the Future of Travel Content'. skift.com.
- ^'Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled'. National Geographic Channel Australia and New Zealand. Archived from the original on 6 November 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^Todhunter, Colin. 'Madras and The Lonely Planet People'. hackwriters.com. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^Priestley, Harry (July 2008). 'Pictures courtesy of Lonely Planet Publications'. chiangmainews.com. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
- ^ abBen Doherty (30 May 2011). 'Suu Kyi's party ends opposition to tourism'. The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011.
- ^'Unions call to boycott Lonely Planet'. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^Wheeler, Tony; Wheeler, Maureen. 'Responsible travel'. Lonely Planet. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^http://www.cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2019/4/2/lonely-planet-apology.html
- ^https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1102274/lonely-planet-admits-error-in-banaue-rice-terraces-video-misleading
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lonely_Planet&oldid=901255489'
#1 best-selling guide to China*Lonely PlanetChinais your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Try dumplings in Beijing, visit the Great Wall or cruise down the Yangzi River; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of China and begin your journey now!
Inside Lonely Planet China:
- Colour maps and images throughout
- Highlightsand itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
- Essential infoat your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
- Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
- Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - customs, history, art, religion, cinema, calligraphy, architecture, martial arts, landscapes, cuisine
- Free, convenient pull-outBeijing city map (included in print version), plus over 190 maps
- Covers Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Shanghai, Fujian, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Jilin, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Tibet and more
eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones)
- Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges
- Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews
- Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience
- Seamlessly flip between pages
- Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash
- Embedded links to recommendations' websites
- Zoom-in maps and images
- Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing
The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet China, our most comprehensive guide to China, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.
About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. The world awaits!
Lonely Planet guides have won the TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.
'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' -- Fairfax Media
'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times
Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.