The loneliness of the long-distance traveller is no more. With 70 percent of navigation owners using local guides to aid ‘spur of the moment’ decision-making, Navteq and Lonely Planet have teamed up to give domestic travellers personalised location-based travel information on 25 recommended planned trip itineraries in Australia.It’s the first time that Lonely Planet trip information has been integrated into Navteq’s mapping technology as well as Navman’s MY Series range.
According to Shawn Low, Lonely Planet’s Asia Pacific Travel Editor, 71 percent of Australians take overnight trips in a private vehicle, making Lonely Planet Trips for Navteq the ideal companion for domestic travellers.
“The combined expertise of Navteq and Lonely Planet will make it even easier for travellers to spontaneously explore some of this country’s most exciting destinations,” said Low.
In a background paper called Spontaneous Travel by Organisational Psychologist Barbara Miller, she said that one of the reasons people enjoy travel is that it gives us a sense of perspective outside our everyday lives.
“Indeed spontaneous new experiences – trying something you’ve never done before – can make you happy. This doesn’t have to be jumping out of a plane or doing other thrill-seeking activities, it simply needs to involve doing something new and doing something spontaneously,” she adds.
Lonely Planet Trips for Navteq has been incorporated by Navman as the Scenic Drive feature in its MY Series, and acts as a personalised tour guide, providing advice and commentary on the best places to eat, stay, shop, relax and explore.
Navman Australia and New Zealand’s Marketing Director, Wendy Hammond said, “The Scenic Drive feature is geared towards today’s busy families and professionals who are increasingly short on time and needing to make decisions on-the go.”
“With so many beautiful places to discover and experience in Australia, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the choices for where to go and what to see. Whether going on a weekend getaway or a week-long road trip, Scenic Drive offers holiday goers the freedom to be spontaneous,” she added.
Kirk Mitchell, vice president Oceania Sales, Navteq, said: “Making rich, Lonely Planet-based content readily available to a Navman device gives consumers the enhanced GPS experience they are seeking. It bridges the gap between relying on navigation to simply get from point A to point B to allowing a device to inspire holiday travel.”.
The Navteq-verified, premium travel information is now available to consumers via the Navman My Series 2010 GPS range. Read our full review of the Navman MY75T here.
