A wide variety of publications and materials exist with the goal of providing information for people who wish to travel. The range of perspectives can be quite wide, ranging from students traveling on limited budgets to luxury vacations where money is no object. Travel magazines, such as "Conde Nast Traveler" and "Travel and Leisure" provide articles describing places and authors' personal experiences. Travel guides, such as "The Lonely Planet," "The Rough Guide" and "Time Out" provide concrete information on accommodations, historical sites, entertainment venues, local weather and other information for day-to-day use.
Cities, regions and countries collect and distribute information with the goal of identifying and cultivating markets in tourism. Most of this information is economic and statistical in nature and deals with industry-related topics, like restaurants and hotels, but occasionally natural or historical attractions. Consulting up-to-date local publications is the most reliable method for acquiring this type of information.
Governments collect and publish information on tourism and tourist-related industries with the aim of developing business and maintaining health and safety standards through regulation. Libraries and tourist offices often have access to these documents, but government or embassy websites are a reliable, first contact point for locating this information.
Tourism is a field that is prone to unexpected changes. Weather or natural disasters, political instability and downturns in economic cycles can all affect the accuracy of tourism publications. Some degree of personal experience or direct contact with the area, in addition to staying abreast of recent news developments is the most reliable way to avoid surprises in this area. Keep in mind that tourism regulations in other countries may not be as strictly enforced. Guidebooks may be sold more with the idea of profit in mind than accuracy. Good and correct information is essential to ensure the success of your tourism venture, be it personal or business.