Do some general research on the internet (and in person if you can) on touring bicycles and what sort of options you can get on a touring bicycle.

From your initial research, make a list of what you want in a touring bicycle. (i.e. steel, braze-ons, a certain type of brakes, gearing, size, colour, etc. etc. etc.)

Do more detailed research of a variety of bicycle companies around the world, and see what they've got in touring bicycles and how much it would cost to get ahold of their touring bicycles. You'll likely come up with a list of 50 or 100 ... there's a lot more out there than you think.

Narrow down your search based on the list of what you want, availability, and price.

And then, buy the bicycle YOU want ... whether it is from the local shop or elsewhere. Get what YOU want.

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Rowan and I live in a small town with no bicycle shops, only a sporting goods shop where you might be able to pick up a few things if you were in dire need. So for us, it was either buy something in Melbourne, in some other part of Australia, or order something from overseas. We went with Thorn Club Tour frames (from the UK) and are building them up.