The Literature Tourism Model
Have you wandered into Chapters, or Indigo or your local independent bookstore lately, casually wandering the aisles, observing the titles and the customers earnestly looking for a particular volume? Reading and the pursuit of authors and topics – is alive and well, and in many communities literature is thriving all the way to the bank.

Recently we have seen the phenomenon of J.K. Rowling’s character “Harry Potter” and the marvellous effect this had on millions of children around the world - introducing them to literature and breeding an entire generation of readers.

The equally phenomenal “Lord of the Rings” trilogy (Harry Potter for adults) has reintroduced many adults to the joy of literature and this was not lost on the movie industry - as classic literature was turned into film and marketed to a broad spectrum of the faithful. Tourism has benefited from this passion with literature, from the mid forties until the present. North by North West – featuring the state of Alaska, Out of Africa – featuring Kenya, Hawaii five O – featuring the state of Hawaii, South Pacific featuring Polynesia, The Thornbirds – featuring Australia…The Love Boat – featuring the cruise segment - the list of literature and movies linked with tourism is long and successful.

Some regions have been able to capitalize on Literature Tourism, by linking the success of a local writer to increased visitor potential. Burnett Thorne is able to work with your region to make a success of this segment by the application of our Literature Tourism model. The process requires considerable innovation and the cooperation of the major stakeholder groups. The results demand high profile development work and the results are a new and vibrant tourism product.

"We can lick gravity, but sometimes the
paperwork can be overwhelming"

Werner Von Braun

A few examples of Literature tourism’s most vibrant tourism drivers.

The Bronte Sisters and their home in Howarth, Yorkshire, UK., where the Bronte Sisters lived and wrote those wonderful books about Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and mysterious Heathcliff.

The lost Franklin expedition and the many Franklin exploration books generating visits to remote Bathurst Inlet Lodge in the N.W. Passage of Canada’s arctic ocean.

Lucy Maud Montgomery, the prolific writer from Prince Edward Island, creator of the famous Anne of Green Gables, which morphed into a successful musical, which has generated many visits to PEI from overseas.

James Clavell, whose compelling images of a Japanese era depicted in his novel “Shogun”, excited thousands of Europeans who eventually visited Japan.

Charles Dickens, the prolific and atmospheric English Edwardian writer, creating images of an almost medieval London, which is still being used in the movies.