Reference News Network, November 13 report: The BBC website recently published an article titled "Reading Beyond the Beach: A New Wave of Literary Travel", authored by Lizzie Enfield. The full translation is as follows:

Forget reading a paperback alone on the beach: travelers are now joining reading trips that combine books, locations, and communities.

In a Italian-style restaurant called Ebridiello in Florence, a dozen men and women sit around a long table, holding wine glasses, deeply discussing a novel: Sarah Winman's "Still Life". Photos of the city's flood in 1966 hang on the walls. At that time, the Arno River overflowed, causing 35 deaths, and some precious artworks were destroyed. This group excitedly pointed at those photos, which had inspired Winman to write the novel when she dined there and saw the same pictures.

Now, food has become secondary. This small literary group, composed of former strangers, is participating in "Read and Travel" reading tours. This emerging trend of vacations places reading at the center, rather than sunbathing or sightseeing. Travelers are no longer satisfied with reading paperbacks by the pool; instead, they sign up for carefully arranged literary holidays, combining the ritual of reading with the fun of travel destinations, ultimately achieving a unique fusion: both a vacation and a book club, as well as a cultural immersion.

"I was initially attracted to 'Read and Travel' by an ad on Facebook," recalls one participant, Lyn Majorison. "The ad featured the cover of my favorite book, with the book on the table, a glass of wine beside it, and the background was a square in Florence. The slogan was 'Do you like reading these books where they take place?' I was immediately touched."

Since then, Majorison has traveled to Florence, Budapest, and other places, enjoying reading holidays. "For me, these holidays are the perfect combination of books and travel," she said. "I have always liked reading books set in my vacation destinations. Reading holidays provide a way to both read and meet like-minded people. When the holiday ends, I always feel reinvigorated about reading and traveling — usually with a longer list of books to read."

The "Read and Travel" program was founded by Paul Wright in 2023, initially aiming to go on vacation with his book club members in the UK. Now, he offers weekend trips in the UK as well as long-term holiday programs to Portugal, Crete, Egypt, and Italy, all centered around on-site readings.

In Wright's travels, readers may enter Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" in Monroe, Alabama; visit the Jamaican home where Ian Fleming wrote "Dr. No"; or walk through the unforgettable Spinalonga site on Crete, where Victoria Hislop drew inspiration for her novel "The Island." "The passages I once read suddenly come alive," said Majorison. "Those days, being there felt like living in the story itself."

This is not just a niche form of travel. According to a survey conducted by Kayak in 2025, nearly half of British travelers now choose their destinations based on whether they are suitable for reading and learning. This proportion rises to 60% among millennials. This reflects a broader shift. 89% of vacationers say that travel is a moment of "investing in oneself," not just a break. Meanwhile, a report from the market research company Future Market Insights shows that the overall value of the literary tourism industry was approximately $2.4 billion last year, and it is expected to grow to $3.3 billion by 2034.

Wright has witnessed this demand. "I organized two trips since 2023," he said. "Last year, there were seven trips, but they were only half full. This year, I offer about 25 trips, and they are usually fully booked within 24 hours of being announced."

The emergence of reading retreats is a direct result of other literary trends, including the rise of book clubs, the explosive growth of BookTok recommendations, and the increasing popularity of literary festivals. Today, readers are no longer satisfied with reading a paperback by the pool; they want the ritual of reading to be a gateway to seeing the world with a new perspective.

Today, travelers cruise the Nile with Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile," discussing Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See" while walking the streets of Saint-Malo, and following the footsteps of Tracy Chevalier's "The Lost Daughter" as Mary Anning searched for fossils in Lyme Regis.

As writer Jeanette Winterson said, "Books are doors; when you open them, a whole new world awaits." Reading holidays are the steps through these doors, leading to new worlds filled with friendship, curiosity, and shared exploration. (Translated by Zhao Feifei)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572137452962415119/

Statement: The article represents the views of its author. Please express your opinion by clicking the [Up/Down] buttons below.