LARRY PORTZLINE

BOOKSTORE TOURISM —

My goal for Bookstore Tourism has always been, simply:

​

To support independent bookstores by promoting them as a group travel destination.

​

Although I haven't been actively involved with it for a while, I still think it has a lot of promise as a group travel niche and marketing tool for the bookselling and travel industries.

​

I first began leading "bookstore road trips" to New York City in 2003. I'd load 50 people on a chartered bus in Harrisburg, PA, and we'd spend the day visiting the 20 or so indie bookshops in and around Greenwich Village.

Later, I also led literary jaunts to Washington, DC and the Brandywine Valley. To say that these sold-out excursions were popular would be putting it lightly. Everyone spent so much money and carried home so many books, it boggles the mind.

​

At first the Bookstore Tourism idea was merely for fun, but it gradually turned into a mission when I saw how many indie booksellers around the country were struggling to compete with large bookstore chains, online retailers and the rise of the e-book.

I wanted to remind readers everywhere how important it is to support their local indies if they don't want them fading into oblivion.

​

These bus trips seemed like a great way to do that, so I started encouraging other folks to plan bookstore tours of their own.

I promoted the concept with a website, a blog, podcasts, and even a how-to book called Bookstore Tourism: The Book Addict's Guide to Planning & Promoting Bookstore Road Trips for Bibliophiles & Other Bookshop Junkies.

​

Bookstore Tourism eventually grew into a grassroots effort in various locations around the U.S.

It was never huge, but there was a nice ripple of interest and support.

A lot of folks recognized the concept's potential as a group travel niche and marketing tool, especially the American Booksellers Association, various regional booksellers associations and a few other groups that considered ways to collaborate and capitalize on the trend.

In particular, the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association offered several bookstore tours in and around Los Angeles and San Diego. (Check out the video of their "Beach Towns Bookstore Tour" in the archives below.)

​

Some folks continue to do literary road trips here and there, but changes in the industry have certainly taken a toll. I think Bookstore Tourism could rise again, though. It offers nothing but benefits: to the organizations that sponsor them, to the bookselling and travel industries, to literacy and reading efforts, and on and on.

​

Like I told a reporter once: "If they can load people onto a bus and take them to outlet malls for the day, why can't they do the same with indie bookstores?"

​

~ Larry Portzline