Tony Wheeler, with his wife Maureen, founded Lonely Planet Publications back in 1973. Today, the brand publishes over 500 travel related titles.

What are the new trends in travel?

Recently, it’s the concern about travel. Lots of people are asking if they should travel less often—instead of two one-week trips do one two-week trip. Walking trips are becoming more common along with activity-oriented travel like cooking courses, intensive language courses and charity inspired treks.

How do you feel when you see a tourist clutching LP’s first book, Southeast Asia on a Shoestring?

I’m still very proud of that book, its been going for 33 years. It’s definitely a young persons’ book. I really enjoy it when I hear about people using the book to help them have good experiences. I think it is much-loved. 

What’s the impact of being listed in LP for a business?

In some places, it may help but it is just another factor. For example, if we recommend a restaurant in Singapore there are probably a half dozen other things that recommended it. Then there are other places like Vietman, India and China, where we really have a big influence and our recommendation could really boost business by 50% or, if we stop recommending them, cut business by 50%. That power is a little bit worrying.

Considering the internet, why do we still need guide books?

The batteries never go flat. You don’t need to go online. You can read it on that long bus trip. There are lots of things the guidebook can still do that the internet cannot. I don’t think the guidebook is going to die in the short term, but who knows?