Legendary travel journalist Arthur Frommer fired up the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) conference on Friday by accusing the profession of being trivial, scared to tackle controversial issues, afraid to upset advertisers, and "absurdly upscale".

Mr. Frommer, who founded the famous series of budget travel guides of the same name, said journalists were brought up not to take travel writing seriously and accepted that they should not write critical pieces.

Mr. Frommer called on SATW to pass tough resolutions demanding the US Government drop the "unconstitutional" restrictions on Americans travelling to communist Cuba, and send out a warning that the organisation would respond collectively if any journalist was blacklisted for writing critical articles about locations or companies.

He told delegates at the Fairmont Southampton Princess: "Travel journalism in America is relentlessly and absurdly upscale.

"In a nation where the average median income of a family is $41,000, the travel press considers itself to be a facility out of reach of the vast majority of the population and is of no conceivable relevance to them."

He said travel publications were obsessed with new hotel openings and journalists wrote uncritical pieces after enjoying "junkets" - free trips - from hotels or airlines.

"Because the editors (of newspapers) dismiss the travel section like the toy department, they do not promote travel writers to go beyond the jaunty. They do not understand people have more uplifting issues," he said.

"Most editors do not promote writers to be critical of destinations or comment on politics. The travel press limits itself to the most trivial issues and steers clear of controversial issues."

He criticised the "extreme sensitivity of editors to advertisers. When was the last time you saw a critical comment in a travel publication about important companies who are potential advertisers? The theory of most travel publications is that it is a trivial issue, therefore the normal rules safeguarding writing from advertising do not apply.

"An entire generation of journalists has been taught that travel journalism as opposed to other journalism is about not making waves.

"This organisation (SATW) can take a great lead in uplifting travel journalism in America. Why should SATW not be a strong voice in making travel writing relevant to the needs of travellers? Why does SATW not pass resolutions saying writers can criticise where criticism is deserved?

"I would like to see journalists bringing positions beyond commercial self-preservation to bring back respect to travel writing."

He said there was almost no coverage in the travel press when a group of law-abiding gay and lesbian Americans were denied landing rights in the Cayman Islands.

He said SATW should pass a resolution condemning any ban on an American travelling based on colour, creed or sexual orientation.

It should resolve to protest against the "unconstitutional" US ban on Americans travelling to Cuba.

And it should pass a resolution that "a junket does not imply undertaking to be uncritical". SATW should hit back if any journalist is blacklisted by an organisation for writing impartial reports.

"We won't be seen as trivial if we conduct ourselves in a non-trivial way and we should take an uncompromising stand.It is up to each of us to regard travel as an important subject that requires the highest professionalism. Each of us can make travel writing a great calling. We can set the highest professional standards and pursue them with single minded determination and advise the people we write for of this, and uplift the publications."

After the speech, which earned Mr. Frommer a standing ovation, SATW president Doug Hall told delegates Mr. Frommer had agreed to join the organisation to push it to pass these resolutions.