Travel writers hit out at UK retailer WH Smith
© Chaleerat Ng
Following the announcement that UK retailer WH Smith has signed an exclusive deal to sell only foreign travel books published by Penguin, the British Guild of Travel Writers is planning to hit back by offering special in-store travel events to bookshops selling holiday guides.
With many publishers currently struggling to stay afloat, the Guild believes that the move by WH Smith could threaten the livelihood of many travel writers, and has written to the Office of Fair Trade stating that the deal is “anti-competitive”.
However, WH Smith argues that that it captures only 5.6 per cent of retail travel book sales, and that the deal is only for the 265 stores that carry overseas guides, and will not affect all of its 420 airport, train station and motorway outlets.
The Guild pointed out that as WH Smith are the only bookshops at the seven BAA airports, this deal will mean there are no outlets available to publishers other than Penguin, which will reduce consumer choice, and cause “significant detriment to members of our association.”
Best-selling travel writer and presenter Michael Palin has agreed, calling the deal an “unacceptable restriction of traveller’s choice”, while Society of Authors chair Margaret Drabble described it as “ludicrous”, and commented that Penguin “should be ashamed”.
Arthur Frommer, founder of the US travel guide company, said that the deal was “an unthinkable act of literary censorship and corporate greed”.
In response, the British Guild of Travel Writers has declared its intention to offer any bookstore that sells travel guides the option to host free holiday planning clinics, with the Guild providing travel experts who will give talks and offer advice on everything from specific destinations to th art of taking the perfect travel photos.
Guild chair Melissa Shales says: “We have experts in almost every destination from Montana to Moldova. After all, what we most want to do is sell as many guidebooks as possible - it’s in everyone’s best interests.”
Booksellers who want further information on the travel clinics, contact the Guild’s press and PR co-ordinator Sarah Monaghan at pr@bgtw.org or visit the website of the British Guild of Travel Writers: www.bgtw.org
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