Google Maps Deterring Outback Tourists, Say Small Firms

Tourism operators in Australia claim inaccuracies in Google Maps are deterring potential visitors, by making remote attractions appear further away than they actually are. From a report: The Queensland government in north-east Australia has complained to Google, which says it will look into the issue. Firms looking to promote their small towns as remote tourist destinations say Google Maps inflates travel times. Outback businesses say errors in the map app can add hours to a journey. 'People aren't coming to places because they think it takes too long, or they're missing opportunities to refuel and they're getting sent off on another road that has no fuel [outlets],' Robyn Mackenzie, of the Eromanga Natural History Museum, told national broadcaster ABC. 'People will get frightened of travelling in the outback, because they don't have any confidence in the mapping,' the general manager of the small town museum added.

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