Skift Take
Despite the march to mobile, many travelers still turn to traditional print guidebooks for upcoming travels, which has several people wondering if Google’s move is too short-sighted.
It’s been a transformative week in the world of travel guidebooks. First Lonely Planet is sold to a reclusive U.S. billionaire and now Google ceases production and publication of Frommer’s print travel guidebooks.
The news came as a shock to travelers and the tech world alike, which learned that Google was killing another product, Reader, just one week earlier. Industry followers; however, might be less surprised by Google’s decision as travel content makes the ongoing shift to the digital world.
Here’s what Twitter had to say about the loss of many’s favorite travel guidebook:
Horrible week for print travel guides. First Lonely Planet gets the boot, now Frommer’s shutters skift.com/2013/03/21/goo…
— Colin Fitzpatrick (@colinfitz) March 21, 2013
Have ipad, will travel rt @pe_feeds @skiftnews Google quietly pulls plug on Frommer’s print travel guidebooks goo.gl/WbquL
— CorpLawCLT (@CorpLawCLT) March 21, 2013
Seriously Google? You’re a HUGE ASSHOLE this week. @google is reportedly discontinuing Frommer’s print guidebooks. skift.com/2013/03/21/goo… …
— Erin Biba (@erinbiba) March 21, 2013
This is a Google Read joke, right? @yelvington Wow. Google kills Frommer’s print guidebooks. bit.ly/11ooQwL
— Patrick Thornton (@pwthornton) March 21, 2013
Google killing Frommer’s travel books? That’s extremely disappointing. I get them from the library for every trip. skift.com/2013/03/21/goo…
— Andy M (@morinap) March 21, 2013
OMG Google axes Frommer’s Guide books, I’ll never trust them again. #ReaderSarcasm
— Joe Tierney (@JoeTierney) March 21, 2013
Tomorrow: Google launches new travel guide serivce. RT @saschasegan: Google kills Frommer’s travel guides. skift.com/2013/03/21/goo…
— MattRosoff (@MattRosoff) March 21, 2013
@pretavoyager Isn’t that the worst?! Frommer’s guides are some of my favorites, they have great authors and nice format. End of an era…
— Meg Nesterov (@thenotoriousmeg) March 21, 2013
Zagat’s next? RT @rafat: Exclusive: Google quietly pulls plug on Frommer’s print travel guidebooks goo.gl/WbquL
— Greg Galant (@gregory) March 21, 2013
Sad scoop. After 56 years, Google is killing Frommer’s print travel guides. skift.com/2013/03/21/goo…
— saschasegan (@saschasegan) March 21, 2013
Frommer’s has always been my go-to guide. I’m not on board with it being totally digital.
— Erin Biba (@erinbiba) March 21, 2013
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