La guía turística: un género textual que informa, enseña, sugiere y promueve

Every travel experience begins with a preliminary phase during which the tourists consult resources to guide them in their choice of a destination to visit, or even to accompany them to their chosen destination, among which guidebooks stand out. This textual genre, characterised by a specific functional discourse, plays a social and mediating role between the tourists and the possible locations they wish to visit. This paper, based on a review of key bibliographical sources, aims to reflect upon the functions of tourist guidebooks, from their genesis in travel literature to their dissemination as a typical editorial product of the sector. It also studies their relevance in the promotion of places and in the construction of the identity of destinations. In short, thanks to a specific construction and articulation of their discourse, tourist guidebooks stand as a unique textual genre that simultaneously inform, teach, suggest and promote, fulfilling four fundamental objectives in the travel experience.