12 May 2008
Travelling has become more affordable over the last few years, opening doors to people from all ages desirous of discovering exotic places such as the Gambia in Western Africa.
Beyond flight tickets and hotel rooms, most people also include the purchase of a guidebook to learn more about the country and plan their stay.
Sean Tipton, a spokesperson for the Association of British Travel Agents, has explained that guidebooks "are extremely accurate, and it is one of the main reasons why travel around the whole world has become so much easier".
Mr Tipton added that thirty years ago travel outside Western Europe could be a "daunting experience", as there were "no reliable guidebooks you could use".
Statistics from the UK book publishing industry have revealed that people who tend to buy travel guides are typically busy 25 to 34-year-old female or male Londoners with a professional/managerial/administrative type job, who balance raising a family with studying in the evenings.
People aged 35-44 with good professional backgrounds come second in the report, which was published by professional travel photographer Jim Batty in April 2006, followed by young single graduates.