Time travelling - Exploring travel writing as an archaeological communication

Abstract

Background Archaeological tourism is an important niche market for Australians. Current structures tend to focus travel journalism on industry-funded familiarisation trips which allow the travel industry to shape journalists' itineraries - perhaps neglecting ancient sites. Building on a personal interest in archaeology, I wanted to explore the question: Are features highlighting the neglected and under-promoted area of ancient cultural heritage taken up by Australian newspapers? Archaeological sites are crucial tourism destinations for developing nations who may not be blessed with the biggest cruise ship or the most fashionable hotels. Contribution This research consists of three travel features published through Australian Associated Press and in the Sydney Morning Herald's webpage, The Age's webpage, The Canberra Sunday Times, The Rockhampton Bulletin, the Sunday Tasmanian and The Newcastle Herald. The prominence of these articles suggests there is a market for archaeological travel writing which may not be being fully satisfied by current travel writing practices and therefore offers an opportunity to journalists who wish to break into travel writing including graduates of journalism education programs at universities such as UTS. Significance This research showed how using the cultural capital of the destinations and the writer to develop an under explored area of travel writing of interest to Australians can be of value to travel companies in Australia and nations with immense archaeological and historical heritage, some of whom have less luxurious facilities for tourists and fewer entrepreneurial backers with the spending power to fund travel familiarisation trips for journalists in distant countries such as Australia.