Let’s Stop Whitewashing Literary Tourism
Recently, The New York Times published an article about the growing trend of literary tourism. (I know it's not new, but we’ll let the Times think they are breaking news). The article described many of the cool things people are doing in the name of literary tourism, everything from reading retreats to using literary festivals as travel destinations. By the end of the article however, one might get the idea that literary tourism is for and about white people. That literary tourism highlights and centers white writers and white readers. And that literary travel destinations are all in Europe, the UK and the United States. This of course, is not true.
Literary Tourism is Global
To dispel the myth that literary tourism is for white people, or that literary tourism begins and ends in the western world, we only need to look at literary history to correct these whitewashed assumptions. Let’s start with the book itself. The book is the basis for all literary tourism, whether you read books, write books, or you want to celebrate the people who write books. So, considering that the first novel ever written in the world - The Tale of Genji – was authored by a Japanese woman, and the oldest, continuous running library in the world – The Qarawiynin Library – is in Fez, Morocco, one simply must be open to the idea that literature is global. That books, writing, and storytelling were celebrated and shared in Asia and Africa hundreds of years before the people in Europe and the UK got around to it. So, if literary tourism takes its cue from the places in the world where literary culture lives and thrives, then it must go far beyond the western world. A perfect example would be Paju Book City outside of Seoul in South Korea. Paju Book City is literally an entire city devoted to and built around the book.
Author Pilgrimages Have No Limits
One of the things that people love to do as a form of literary tourism, is something I call author pilgrimages. This is when a person or a tour group goes to the home, the grave site, and/or the place where their favorite author wrote their most important works. And since not all authors are white, why would author pilgrimages be limited to white authors?
The sad fact is that in the United States, the UK and Europe, there are far more historical markers, homes turned historical landmarks, and walking tours for white authors than for authors of color.( This article from LitHub talks about the difficulty in getting historical preservation status for the homes of Black authors in the United States.) But just because there aren’t always official tours and markers for our BIPoC literary heroes, doesn’t mean we can’t create the itinerary for our own author pilgrimages. Whether that is in the United States, Iceland, or in Istanbul (Did you know James Baldwin spent over a decade in Turkey?).
Alice Walker famously went on her own self-guided author pilgrimage to find the gravesite of Zora Neale Hurston. And it was because of that pilgrimage and the famous story she wrote about it afterwards, that Zora Neale Hurston’s literary legacy was revived.
Literary Festivals Gone Global
It seems absolutely ridiculous that we limit ourselves to our own cities, or even our own countries, when thinking about what literary festivals to attend. Some of the most amazing book festivals and book conferences happen all over the world. (Check our list the best BIPOC literary festivals just to get some ideas of what’s possible.)
Here are three global literary festivals that do not take place in Europe or the UK, are international in scope, and would be amazing as the centerpiece of a literary travel adventure.
The Jaipur Literary Festival. “In an era riddled with geopolitical conflicts, wars, and fragmentation, literature acts as the glue that holds humanity together, and Jaipur Literature Festival is a living manifestation of that space where stories, languages, and ideas bridge divides, reminding us that dialogue is more urgent than ever. Teamwork Arts, a trailblazer in immersive cultural and intellectual experiences, invites the world to join us in Jaipur from 14th to 18th January 2027 at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, as we write the next chapter of the ‘greatest literary show on Earth!’” If you've dreamt about going to India, but didn’t know where or how to organize a trip to such a massive country, you could use the Jaipur Literary Festival as the anchor for your trip.
The Marrakesh English Book Festival “The Marrakech English Book Festival is a biennial celebration of books, ideas, and voices — created to support and expand the presence of English-language reading and writing in Morocco.” Can you imagine a more delicious experience than celebrating the book in the bustling city of Marrakech?
The Calabash Literary Festival “Every other year, for three very intense days, Treasure Beach is transformed as the renowned Calabash Literary Festival takes over our rustic island outpost. Readings, interviews and open-mic sessions start each morning and wind-down as the sun sets. The Calabash International Literary Festival is known for its vibe. The heart and spirit of the festival: earthy, inspirational, daring and diverse.” I mean, what could be better than books and beach at the same festival?
Literary Tourism is Not Just for White People
I hope I have convinced you that literary tourism is as global, diverse, and multicultural as the readers and writers around the world who love literature and literary culture. So get out there and enjoy this wonderful global trend.