Lonely Planet

==Controversies==

==Controversies==

{{criticism section}}

In 1996, in response to a "Visit Myanmar" campaign by the [[State Peace and Development Council|Burmese military government]], the Burmese opposition [[National League for Democracy]] (NLD) and its leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] called for a tourism boycott.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/suu-kyis-party-ends-opposition-to-tourism-20110529-1fasg.html|title=Suu Kyi's party ends opposition to tourism|author-first1=Ben|author-last1= Doherty|date=30 May 2011|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602172407/http://www.smh.com.au/world/suu-kyis-party-ends-opposition-to-tourism-20110529-1fasg.html|archive-date=2 June 2011}} As the publication of Lonely Planet's guidebook to [[Myanmar]] ([[Burma]]) is seen by some as an encouragement to visit that country, this led to calls for a boycott of Lonely Planet.{{cite news |title=Unions call to boycott Lonely Planet |url=http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/unions-call-to-boycott-lonely-planet/story-e6frfq80-1111115617829 |date=22 February 2008 |access-date=24 August 2010}} Lonely Planet's view is that it highlights the issues surrounding a visit to the country and that it wants to make sure readers make an informed decision.{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/about/responsible-travel |title=Responsible travel |last1=Wheeler |first1=Tony |last2=Wheeler |first2=Maureen |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=24 August 2010}} In 2009, the NLD formally dropped its previous stance and now welcomes visitors "who are keen to promote the welfare of the common people".

In 1996, in response to a "Visit Myanmar" campaign by the [[State Peace and Development Council|Burmese military government]], the Burmese opposition [[National League for Democracy]] (NLD) and its leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] called for a tourism boycott.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/suu-kyis-party-ends-opposition-to-tourism-20110529-1fasg.html|title=Suu Kyi's party ends opposition to tourism|author-first1=Ben|author-last1= Doherty|date=30 May 2011|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602172407/http://www.smh.com.au/world/suu-kyis-party-ends-opposition-to-tourism-20110529-1fasg.html|archive-date=2 June 2011}} As the publication of Lonely Planet's guidebook to [[Myanmar]] ([[Burma]]) is seen by some as an encouragement to visit that country, this led to calls for a boycott of Lonely Planet.{{cite news |title=Unions call to boycott Lonely Planet |url=http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/unions-call-to-boycott-lonely-planet/story-e6frfq80-1111115617829 |date=22 February 2008 |access-date=24 August 2010}} Lonely Planet's view is that it highlights the issues surrounding a visit to the country and that it wants to make sure readers make an informed decision.{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/about/responsible-travel |title=Responsible travel |last1=Wheeler |first1=Tony |last2=Wheeler |first2=Maureen |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=24 August 2010}} In 2009, the NLD formally dropped its previous stance and now welcomes visitors "who are keen to promote the welfare of the common people".

Lonely Planet popularity in the 21st century means a mention in a Lonely Planet guidebook is likely to inspire large numbers of travellers to that location. In 2010, for instance, Lonely Planet was blamed{{clarification needed|date=September 2024}} for the rise of what is sometimes referred to as the "[[Banana Pancake Trail]]" in [[Southeast Asia]].{{cite web |url=http://www.hackwriters.com/Madras.htm |title=Madras and The Lonely Planet People |first=Colin |last=Todhunter |publisher=hackwriters.com |access-date=24 August 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=2228 |title=Pictures courtesy of Lonely Planet Publications |first=Harry |last=Priestley |date=July 2008 |publisher=chiangmainews.com |access-date=10 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215042500/http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=2228 |archive-date=15 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}

Lonely Planet popularity in the 21st century means a mention in a Lonely Planet guidebook is likely to inspire large numbers of travellers to that location. In 2010, for instance, Lonely Planet was blamed{{clarification needed|date=September 2024}} for the rise of what is sometimes referred to as the "[[Banana Pancake Trail]]" in [[Southeast Asia]].{{cite web |url=http://www.hackwriters.com/Madras.htm |title=Madras and The Lonely Planet People |first=Colin |last=Todhunter |work=hackwriters.com |access-date=24 August 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=2228 |title=Pictures courtesy of Lonely Planet Publications |first=Harry |last=Priestley |date=July 2008 |work=chiangmainews.com |access-date=10 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215042500/http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=2228 |archive-date=15 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}

In March 2019, Lonely Planet posted a video on [[Facebook]] falsely claiming that the [[Banaue Rice Terraces]] in the [[Philippines]] were created by the Chinese, leading to criticism. The magazine later posted on [[Twitter]] in April 2019 that their Facebook video was indeed "misleading" and that they would update the next Philippines book edition but would not scrap current editions that already wrongfully state that the terraces were made by the Chinese.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2019/4/2/lonely-planet-apology.html|title=Lonely Planet corrects 'misleading' post on Banaue Rice Terraces|website=cnn|access-date=27 April 2020|archive-date=24 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124110409/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2019/4/2/lonely-planet-apology.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1102274/lonely-planet-admits-error-in-banaue-rice-terraces-video-misleading|title=Lonely Planet admits error in Banaue Rice Terraces video 'misleading'|first=Neil Arwin|last=Mercado|website=newsinfo.inquirer.net|date=2 April 2019}}

In March 2019, Lonely Planet posted a video on [[Facebook]] falsely claiming that the [[Banaue Rice Terraces]] in the [[Philippines]] were created by the Chinese, leading to criticism. The magazine later posted on [[Twitter]] in April 2019 that their Facebook video was indeed "misleading" and that they would update the next Philippines book edition but would not scrap current editions that already wrongfully state that the terraces were made by the Chinese.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2019/4/2/lonely-planet-apology.html|title=Lonely Planet corrects 'misleading' post on Banaue Rice Terraces|website=cnn|access-date=27 April 2020|archive-date=24 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124110409/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2019/4/2/lonely-planet-apology.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1102274/lonely-planet-admits-error-in-banaue-rice-terraces-video-misleading|title=Lonely Planet admits error in Banaue Rice Terraces video 'misleading'|first=Neil Arwin|last=Mercado|website=newsinfo.inquirer.net|date=2 April 2019}}