There is a little known film genre called travel lecturing. This type of film is very different from the typical Hollywood movie that most of you would expect to see. These films are more educational and appeal to the wanderlust of people. Typically, a filmmaker will travel to exotic locations and capture video and stills of the landscapes, culture, people, food, wildlife, and anything else that might interest audiences back home. When the filmmaker returns they edit all the footage to create a type of documentary that may be accompanied by a narrator or a direct lecture from the filmmaker. With new advances in technology, the types and varieties of travel lectures have increased. Some may be created more like documentaries and some may be more standard lecture and slideshow with video snippets. The main goal is to take the audience on a journey to places that they have never been, engage them in that journey, and teach them something about those special places. Think of travel films as a form of virtual tourism where people can explore other cultures and countries from the safety of their own home.↵
Historically, travel films were typically shown in any place large enough to hold an audience. This included lecture halls, movie theaters, gymnasiums, private clubs, and community centers. At these events, there could be a mixture of film and lecture that would allow the audience to participate and ask questions about the destinations. What makes these films different from normal films is the lack plot or absenge of a story. Travel lectures are more like a leisurely journey where you can stop and enjoy the scenery. You can make detours and stop wherever you want if you find something interesting. Travel lectures are about bringing a distant world to you and allowing you to experience something new. It can even inspire you to take the risk, travel to those regions, and see the wondrous sites for yourself.