Mapworld and the Travel Industry
by Christopher O'Keeffe
June 19, 2026
For more than 30 years, Mapworld has worked with travel agencies, tour designers, airlines, cruise specialists and premium passenger lounges, supplying the maps and globes that help turn destinations into journeys.
Travel begins with a place.
A country on a map.
A coastline traced by a finger.
A road winding through Europe.
A chain of Pacific islands.
A cruise route across the Mediterranean.
A globe slowly turning in an airport lounge.
Long before a traveller reaches the departure gate, the journey has already started in the imagination.
That is why maps have always belonged in the travel industry.
They help travel consultants explain distance, direction and possibility.
They help tour designers build itineraries that make geographic sense.
They give cruise passengers a visual understanding of the oceans, rivers, islands and ports ahead.
They bring colour and scale to airline offices, travel lounges and customer-facing spaces.
For more than 30 years, Mapworld has supplied maps, globes and geographic products to Australian travel agencies, tourism operators, airlines, cruise businesses and organisations that help people explore the world.
From large world maps behind agency desks to folded Michelin road maps for carefully planned European journeys, Mapworld has remained part of the process of turning travel dreams into real itineraries.
Travel Begins with a Map
The modern traveller can book flights, hotels, cruises and tours without ever unfolding a paper map.
But booking a trip is not the same as understanding it.
A booking screen tells you where you are staying.
A map shows where that place sits in the world.
It shows:
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what lies nearby
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how cities connect
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where mountain ranges begin
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how coastlines shape a journey
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why one route makes sense and another does not
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how far a traveller will move
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which countries, regions and seas form part of the experience
Maps give structure to travel.
They turn a list of hotels and transfers into a journey through geography.
For travel professionals, that wider view matters.
A consultant may be discussing a multi-country European tour, an island itinerary through the Pacific, an Alaskan cruise, a self-drive holiday in France or a rail journey across Japan.
The client needs more than names and prices.
They need to see the journey.
More Than 30 Years Supporting Australian Travel
Mapworld’s relationship with the travel industry goes back more than three decades.
During the great era of the high-street travel agency, large world maps were a familiar feature behind the consultant’s desk.

They were not there merely for decoration.
They were working tools.
A consultant could stand beside the map and point out:
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an airline route
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a cruise itinerary
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a chain of countries
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a touring circuit
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the location of an island
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the distance between cities
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the relationship between Australia and a destination
For many travellers, particularly those planning their first major international holiday, this was the moment the trip became real.
The consultant was no longer describing an abstract itinerary.
They were showing a journey across the world.
Mapworld supplied the maps that helped create those conversations.
Today, the travel industry has changed.
Customers research online.
Consultations may happen by video call.
Documents are often digital.
But a large wall map still has a unique ability to establish knowledge, confidence and excitement.
It tells customers that the person advising them understands geography, not simply booking software.
Flight Centre-Style Wall Maps for National Travel Agencies
The classic Australian retail travel agency has always benefited from a strong visual centrepiece.
In a Flight Centre-style national agency, a large world map behind the consultants provides an immediate sense of purpose.
This is a place where journeys begin.
A good agency wall map can:
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create a professional travel atmosphere
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make the office visible and recognisable
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help consultants explain complex routes
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encourage customer conversation
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show Australia’s relationship to the world
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support destination promotions
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make travel feel exciting before the consultation begins
Pacific-centred world maps are particularly effective in Australian travel agencies.
They place Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific in a natural central position rather than pushing them to the edge of an Atlantic-centred map.
This makes it easier to discuss:
For an Australian agency, the centre of the map matters.
The map should reflect the way Australian travellers see and enter the world.
Large Wall Maps as Travel-Selling Tools
A large wall map can be one of the most effective sales tools in a travel office.

It does not need to flash, scroll or compete for attention.
It simply remains visible.
Customers look at it while they wait.
They notice countries they have visited.
They point out destinations they are considering.
They begin conversations.
A map can inspire the next question:
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Could we add Switzerland to the trip?
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How close is Croatia to Italy?
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Can we combine Fiji and Vanuatu?
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Where exactly is the Inside Passage?
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Which islands are included in Polynesia?
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How far is Lisbon from Barcelona?
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Can we travel from Paris to the Rhine?
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Where does the cruise enter Alaska?
The wall map becomes a visual invitation.
It helps consultants move from selling an individual product to designing a connected journey.
Mapworld’s large wall-map range includes world, continent, country and regional maps in sizes ranging from compact office maps to major two-metre statement pieces.
Depending on the setting, maps can be supplied in:
For a working agency, laminated maps are particularly practical.
They can be marked with suitable whiteboard markers and map dots to show:
The map can then be wiped clean and used for the next promotion.
Maps for Bespoke and Curated International Tours
The more complex the journey, the more valuable the map becomes.
Bespoke travel designers do not simply sell a destination.
They combine experiences.
A curated itinerary may include:
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several countries
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private transfers
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rail connections
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internal flights
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self-drive sectors
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river cruises
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walking tours
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regional accommodation
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ferry crossings
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remote lodges
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island extensions
This kind of travel requires geographic understanding.
A beautifully presented itinerary can still fail if the route itself is inefficient, repetitive or disconnected.
Maps help tour designers assess:
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the natural order of destinations
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realistic travel distances
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regional road networks
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suitable border crossings
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rail and ferry connections
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access to airports
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coastal and inland alternatives
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whether a proposed day trip is genuinely practical
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where additional overnight stops may be needed
For the client, a map also makes a bespoke journey easier to understand.
Instead of reading a long list of place names, they can see the shape of the experience.
Michelin Maps: The Classic Choice for European Touring
Few map brands are as closely associated with European road travel as Michelin.
For generations, Michelin maps have helped travellers navigate France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain, Scandinavia and the wider European road network.
They remain especially valuable for travel agencies designing:
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European self-drive holidays
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wine-region tours
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culinary itineraries
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historic village journeys
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alpine routes
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coastal drives
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scenic touring holidays
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multi-country road trips
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rail-and-drive combinations
Michelin maps are known for their clarity.
They distinguish major roads, regional routes and minor roads in a way that makes practical journey planning easier.
Depending on the edition, they may also identify:
This level of detail is invaluable when a client wants something beyond the motorway.
A digital routing system will usually find the fastest journey.
A Michelin map helps reveal the more interesting journey.
It lets a consultant see the smaller roads through Burgundy, the coastal routes of Scotland, the villages of southern France, the passes of Austria or the regional roads of northern Italy.
That is the difference between transferring a customer from one hotel to another and designing a genuine touring experience.
Michelin Maps for Client Travel Packs
Michelin maps also make excellent additions to premium travel packs.
A folded map can be supplied with:
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the final itinerary
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accommodation vouchers
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rail tickets
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car-hire documents
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local recommendations
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emergency information
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destination notes
For travellers hiring a car, the physical map provides an important backup.
It does not depend on:
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battery life
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mobile reception
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data roaming
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a functioning hire-car navigation system
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the correct address format
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a phone being available to the driver
It also gives the traveller a better overview of the surrounding region.
They may discover that a village, historic site or scenic road sits only a short distance from the planned route.
Travel is often improved by the things that were not originally on the itinerary.
Maps make those discoveries easier.
International Travel Maps: Reaching Beyond the Familiar Routes
International Travel Maps, commonly known as ITMB, is one of the most important specialist travel-map publishers in the Mapworld range.
ITMB is particularly valuable because its coverage reaches far beyond the most familiar tourist destinations.
The range includes maps for countries, cities, regions and travel corridors across:
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Africa
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Asia
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the Pacific
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the Caribbean
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North America
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Central America
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South America
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Europe
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the Middle East
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remote islands
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cruising regions
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overland routes
This makes ITMB especially useful for bespoke and adventure-focused travel agencies.
A mainstream map range may cover France, Britain and the United States well.
ITMB goes further.
It provides mapping for destinations where good printed travel information can be difficult to find.
These maps are useful for:
Many ITMB maps are double-sided, combining regional coverage with city plans, island insets, transport networks or a wider geographic overview.
Some are also available from Mapworld in laminated form for added durability.
National Geographic Maps: Travel with Context
National Geographic maps have a different strength.
They do more than show how to move through a destination.
They show why the destination looks and feels the way it does.
National Geographic cartography combines political detail with physical geography, relief, oceans, terrain and environmental context.
These maps are ideal for:
A National Geographic wall map helps customers appreciate:
For curated travel, that context matters.
A journey through South America is shaped by the Andes and Amazon.
A journey through Europe is influenced by the Alps, Rhine, Danube, Mediterranean and Atlantic.
A Pacific itinerary is defined by enormous ocean distances and scattered island groups.
A map that shows physical geography helps explain the character of the journey.
National Geographic maps also work beautifully as display pieces.
Their cartographic quality gives travel offices, lounges and reception spaces a sophisticated international feel.
Large Maps for International Airlines
Airlines do not simply transport passengers.
They represent connection.
A large wall map is one of the clearest ways to express that idea.
Over the years, Mapworld has supplied large display maps for international carriers including Fiji Airways and Air Vanuatu.
For island-based airlines, geography is central to the brand story.
The map helps show:
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the airline’s home
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regional destinations
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connections to Australia and New Zealand
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the scale of the Pacific
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onward international gateways
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the islands and countries within the network
A Pacific-centred wall map is particularly effective for this purpose.
It gives Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand and the surrounding Pacific a natural visual relationship.
In an airline office, ticketing area, training room or customer space, a large map communicates reach without needing a long explanation.
It says:
This is where we fly.
This is where we connect.
This is the region we understand.
Large Display Maps for Australian Airlines
Mapworld has also supplied large display maps for Australian carriers including:
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Qantas
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Jetstar
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Virgin Australia
For domestic airlines, an Australia wall map can help show the scale and complexity of the national network.
Australia is not a small domestic market.
Flights connect cities, regional centres, mining communities, tourism destinations and remote parts of the country across enormous distances.
A large Australia or Australasia wall map can support:
For international operations, a large Pacific-centred world map expands that view.
It places Australia naturally within Asia, New Zealand, the Pacific, the Americas and the wider world.
Maps in airline settings can be functional.
They can also be symbolic.
They remind passengers and staff that aviation is fundamentally about geography.
Globes for Business- and First-Class Lounges
A globe belongs naturally in an airport lounge.
It represents the world without turning the space into an office.
It is elegant, international and immediately connected to travel.
Mapworld has supplied globes for business- and first-class lounge environments where presentation matters.
The right globe can complement:
A traditional floor globe can create presence in a large lounge.
A finely detailed desktop globe can suit a reception or reading area.
An illuminated globe can add warmth to an evening lounge.
An antique-style globe can complement a more classic interior, while a contemporary globe suits a modern international terminal.
Globes work because they are both decorative and meaningful.
They create a sense of exploration without demanding attention.
They remind passengers, quietly, that the world is waiting beyond the lounge doors.
Maps in Airline Training and Operations
The travel industry is not only customer-facing.
Behind every flight is a large system of training, coordination and operational knowledge.
Maps can be useful in:
A large map allows teams to discuss destinations without relying on a series of disconnected screens.
It is particularly valuable when several people need to see the same geographic picture at once.
Laminated maps can also be marked temporarily to show:
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proposed routes
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current destinations
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seasonal services
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alliance connections
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airport locations
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regional sales areas
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promotional campaigns
The map becomes a shared operational surface.
Mapworld and the Cruise Industry
Cruising is one of the most geographic forms of travel.
The ship is not simply travelling between hotels.
It is moving through oceans, seas, channels, rivers, fjords, island groups and historic ports.
A cruise itinerary often makes little sense until it is seen on a map.
Mapworld supplies maps useful for:
Cruise maps help passengers understand the rhythm of a journey.
They show why the ship sails overnight, how ports relate to one another and how the voyage moves through a wider region.
European Cruise Maps
Europe offers some of the world’s richest cruising geography.
Mediterranean voyages may move through:
A Mediterranean Cruising map by ITMB gives consultants and passengers a clear regional overview, showing ports, coastlines, islands and the broader relationship between the countries around the sea.
European river cruising requires a different kind of map.
A Rhine River Cruising map can help explain the journey through the Netherlands and Germany, while wider European maps place the river within the continent.
Similar mapping is useful for journeys involving:
For the travel consultant, the map helps explain why river cruises feel different from ocean voyages.
The journey follows the landscape.
Cities, vineyards, castles and historic towns are connected by the river itself.
Pacific Cruise Maps
For Australian travellers, Pacific cruising is one of the most accessible forms of international travel.
Yet the Pacific is difficult to understand without a map.
The ocean is enormous.
The islands are scattered across vast distances.
Place names may be familiar, but their relationship is not always obvious.
ITMB produces useful Pacific cruising maps covering areas such as:
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Fiji
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Tonga
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Samoa
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Tahiti
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Polynesia
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the Cook Islands
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New Caledonia
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the Solomon Islands
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Hawaii
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New Zealand
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eastern Australia
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wider Oceania
These maps can show both the island detail and the broader cruise region.
They are excellent tools for explaining:
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where the ship will travel
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how far apart the island groups are
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which countries and territories form part of the itinerary
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how the cruise connects to Australia or New Zealand
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which ports are close enough for regional touring
For cruise agencies, a Pacific map gives customers something the brochure often cannot: scale.
Caribbean Cruise Maps
The Caribbean is another region where a map transforms understanding.
A cruise itinerary may include several islands, countries and territories in a relatively short period.
Without a map, the names can become a list.
With a map, the journey becomes clear.
A Caribbean map helps passengers understand the relationship between:
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the Greater Antilles
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the Lesser Antilles
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the Bahamas
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Cuba
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Jamaica
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Hispaniola
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Puerto Rico
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the Virgin Islands
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the Leeward Islands
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the Windward Islands
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Central America
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northern South America
It can also help a consultant explain the difference between eastern, western and southern Caribbean itineraries.
For pre- and post-cruise travel, country and city maps can add local detail for individual islands and departure ports.
Alaska and the Inside Passage
An Alaskan cruise is defined by geography.
The coast is rugged.
The channels are narrow.
The islands, fjords and mountain ranges shape the entire journey.
The British Columbia Coast and Alaska Inside Passage map by ITMB is particularly useful for cruise passengers because it connects the Canadian and American sections of the route.
It helps travellers understand:
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Vancouver and the British Columbia coast
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the Inside Passage
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south-east Alaska
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island and coastal geography
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ferry and cruise corridors
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the relationship between ports
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the scale of Alaska beyond the cruise route
An additional Alaska map can broaden that picture to include the interior, Arctic regions and Aleutian Islands.
For cruise consultants, these maps are excellent tools for explaining why an Inside Passage voyage is not simply a series of port calls.
It is a journey through one of the world’s great coastal landscapes.
Maps for Cruise Passenger Packs
A well-designed cruise travel pack may include:
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the primary cruising-region map
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a map of the departure city
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local maps for major ports
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a pre-cruise touring map
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a post-cruise road map
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destination notes
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hotel and transfer documents
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excursion information
For a Mediterranean cruise, this might combine a Mediterranean cruising map with Michelin maps of France, Italy or Greece.
For Alaska, it might include the Inside Passage map with Vancouver or Alaska regional mapping.
For the Pacific, it may include a cruising map with detailed maps of Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti or New Caledonia.
This gives the passenger both the large journey and the local experience.
Why Printed Maps Still Matter in the Digital Travel Industry
The travel industry is now overwhelmingly digital.
But that does not make printed maps obsolete.
It makes their role more specific.
A printed map provides:
A screen is excellent for searching.
A map is better for seeing.
This difference matters when:
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several people are planning together
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a consultant is explaining a route
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a client wants to compare alternatives
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a tour includes multiple countries
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the journey follows a coastline or river
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there may be limited mobile coverage
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the traveller wants a keepsake
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the business wants a strong visual identity
The physical map also slows the planning process in a useful way.
It encourages the traveller to look beyond the booking.
Paper, Laminated, Canvas or Folded Travel Map?
Different parts of the travel industry need different formats.
Large Paper Wall Maps
Best for:
Paper provides a classic map appearance and works well when the map will be protected.
Laminated Wall Maps
Best for:
Laminated maps are durable, wipe-clean and practical.
Laminated Maps with Timber Hang Rails
Best for:
Hang rails create a clean, professional finish without full framing.
Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery of hang-railed maps, as each one is professionally mounted by our framer.
Canvas Wall Maps
Best for:
Canvas gives the map a warmer and more refined interior presence.
Folded Travel Maps
Best for:
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client travel packs
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self-drive itineraries
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cruise passengers
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tour leaders
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local navigation
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in-destination reference
Folded Michelin, National Geographic and ITMB maps are designed to travel with the customer.
Recommended Map Setups for Travel Businesses
National Retail Travel Agency
Recommended:
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large Pacific-centred world wall map
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large Australia or Australasia wall map
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laminated regional maps for current campaigns
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display globe near the reception or consultation area
Bespoke International Tour Designer
Recommended:
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executive-style world wall map
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National Geographic continent maps
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Michelin country and regional maps
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ITMB maps for specialist destinations
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laminated itinerary-planning maps
European Touring Specialist
Recommended:
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large Europe wall map
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Michelin Europe map
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detailed Michelin country and regional maps
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Mediterranean cruising map
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Rhine and other river-cruising maps
Pacific Travel Specialist
Recommended:
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Pacific-centred world wall map
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Australasia wall map
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Fiji and Tonga map
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Tahiti and Polynesia cruising map
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Cook Islands and East Pacific map
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New Caledonia and Oceania map
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South Pacific cruising map
Cruise Specialist
Recommended:
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large world wall map
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Mediterranean cruising map
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Caribbean map
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Alaska and Inside Passage map
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Pacific cruising maps
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Europe wall map
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globe for the customer consultation area
Airline Office or Lounge
Recommended:
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large Pacific-centred world map
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large Australia or Australasia map
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executive or antique-style globe
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canvas regional maps
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framed route or destination maps
Custom Large-Format Maps for the Travel Industry
Travel businesses often need a map that fits a particular wall or purpose.
Mapworld can assist with custom large-format printing and finishing where suitable.
This may include:
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enlarging a map
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producing a map at a custom size
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creating a laminated planning map
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printing multiple maps for offices or agencies
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supplying maps with timber hang rails
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creating canvas display maps
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helping select a map suited to a particular region or itinerary
A travel office in a shopping centre may need a wide map for a rear wall.
A cruise specialist may need a large Mediterranean display.
An airline office may need a Pacific-centred map.
A premium lounge may need a refined canvas map or traditional globe.
The map should suit the space, the customer and the journey being sold.
Why Travel Professionals Choose Mapworld
Travel professionals need more than a general bookshop map rack.
They need access to:
Mapworld stocks international maps and travel guides covering countries, cities, regions and travel corridors around the world.
The range includes leading publishers such as:
This depth matters.
A consultant planning a standard European holiday may need a Michelin map.
A cruise specialist may need an ITMB cruising map.
A premium office may need a National Geographic wall map.
An airline lounge may need an executive globe.
A bespoke travel designer may need all of them.
Mapworld brings those requirements together.
Mapworld: Where Journeys Begin
For more than 30 years, Mapworld has been part of Australia’s travel story.
We have supplied maps to national travel agencies.
We have helped independent consultants plan intricate itineraries.
We have supplied large display maps for international and Australian airlines.
We have provided globes for premium passenger environments.
We have helped cruise specialists explain Europe, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Alaska.
We have supplied Michelin maps for road trips, National Geographic maps for context and ITMB maps for destinations far beyond the standard touring routes.
The way people book travel has changed.
The importance of understanding the journey has not.
Final Thoughts
Travel is more than a booking.
It is movement through geography.
It is a road through France.
A river through Europe.
A chain of Pacific islands.
A flight across the world.
A ship entering an Alaskan fjord.
A traveller standing in front of a map and realising how much there is still to see.
Maps help the travel industry tell that story.
They give consultants confidence.
They give customers perspective.
They turn itineraries into journeys.
They make agency walls more inspiring, airline spaces more international and cruise routes easier to understand.
For more than 30 years, Mapworld has supplied the travel industry with the maps and globes that help people imagine where they might go next.
Because every great journey begins twice.
First on the map.
Then in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mapworld supply maps to travel agencies?
Yes. Mapworld has supplied wall maps, folded travel maps, globes and other geographic products to Australian travel agencies and travel professionals for more than 30 years.
What is the best wall map for an Australian travel agency?
A large Pacific-centred political world map is often the best choice because it places Australia, Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific in a natural central position.
Can wall maps be used for itinerary planning?
Yes. Laminated wall maps can be marked with suitable whiteboard markers and map dots to show routes, destinations, promotional regions and customer itineraries.
Does Mapworld sell Michelin maps?
Yes. Mapworld stocks Michelin maps covering Europe, individual countries and detailed touring regions. They are particularly useful for self-drive and curated European holidays.
What are ITMB maps?
ITMB stands for International Travel Maps. The range includes country, city, regional, island, overland and cruising maps for destinations around the world.
Does Mapworld stock National Geographic travel maps?
Yes. Mapworld stocks National Geographic wall maps and folded travel maps, including political, physical, continent and adventure maps.
What maps are useful for Mediterranean cruising?
The ITMB Mediterranean Cruising map gives a broad overview of the Mediterranean, while Michelin and ITMB country maps can add detail for individual ports and pre- or post-cruise travel.
What map is best for an Alaskan cruise?
The ITMB British Columbia Coast and Alaska Inside Passage map is an excellent choice for understanding the principal cruise and ferry corridor.
Are there maps for Pacific cruises?
Yes. Mapworld stocks ITMB maps covering Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, Polynesia, the Cook Islands, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and wider South Pacific cruising routes.
Does Mapworld supply globes for airline lounges?
Yes. Mapworld supplies decorative and educational globes suitable for airline lounges, executive offices, reception areas and premium travel spaces.
Can Mapworld produce large custom maps?
Mapworld can assist with large-format and custom-sized map printing where suitable, including paper, laminated, canvas and hang-railed presentation options.
What map finishes are available for travel offices?
Depending on the map, options may include paper, laminated, laminated with timber hang rails, canvas and canvas with timber hang rails.
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Christopher O'Keeffe
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