The World Food Travel Association describes Culinary Tourism, or gastro tourism as touring different places to savour different tastes and learn about the local place and its culture through the food. It is a rising concept among hardcore gourmets or affluent travellers. Tourists usually look out for exceptional dining experiences, like street foods, food carnivals, cooking courses, and calls to local farms or vineyards. This lets people indulge in the savours, aromas, and styles of diverse culinary practices, offering an understanding of the cultural lineage of a place through its food. It is an extraordinary way to scour the globe, uniting people via the ubiquitous language, i.e., food.
Similarly, Hilton polled thousands of Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X, and Baby Boomers from nine different countries in 2024. More than half of the travellers said culinary tourism is their priority while travelling. A survey by American Express showed more than 80% of travellers look forward directly or indirectly to culinary tourism, like local eateries, food fests, regional food tours, wine tasting, fine-dining, cooking courses, and more.
Why Culinary Tourism is Rising?
Culinary tourism is a rising trend for an array of reasons:
1. Globalisation: Progressive interlinking has made it more comfortable for individuals to uncover and relish different cuisines from around the globe. It has ignited curiosity and a passion to dig into diverse culinary practices.
2. Digital Influences: Social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and food blogs, have encouraged food culture, building a passion for tasting viral delicacies and food adventures in person. Food influencers, online reviews, global shows like Masterchef, Top Chefs, and more also play a pivotal role in shaping culinary tourism trends. An analysis in the UK showed that people between 18-35 spend more than 5 days a year scrolling food-related content online and that 30% of them explore new foods and beverage options during travel.
3. Food Culture: The preferences of travellers have been changing. Now, people look for more value-centric experiences rather than material possessions.
4. Better Accessibility: Enhanced and seamless transport prospects have made travelling easier and let people from different corners explore the world.
5. Cultural Exchange: People are becoming more curious to know about different cultures. Culinary tourism is among the best practices to get a sense of the places and cultures.
6. Health and Wellness: Travellers explore nutritious and sustainable food while travelling. These include culinary experiences such as farm-to-table, organic food, plant-based food, kosher and more.
7. Culinary Adventures: Travellers nowadays prefer exploring less-explored culinary destinations, offering nutritious and distinctive cuisines.
8. Culinary Events and Courses: Culinary events, fests, cooking classes, and educational tours continue to attract travellers pursuing indulging food experiences. The fests display regional cuisine and culinary practices to observe the lively culinary scene of a destination.
Notable Culinary Tourism Destinations
In 2024, notable culinary tourism destinations providing indulging food experiences are:
Tokyo, Japan
Japanese cuisines, like sushi, ramen, tempura, and kaiseki, are worth your try. Visitors can relish by scouring street food markets like Tsukiji Outer Market, dining at Michelin-starred diners, and enrolling in sushi-making courses.
Lyon, France
Lyon boasts an affluent culinary ancestry and food scene. Gourmets can enthral authentic Lyonnaise delicacies, like coq au vin and quenelles, call on regional markets, and scour the city’s dynamic food markets and gourmet eateries.
Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca is renowned for distinctive delicacies charmed by regional Mixtec and Zapotec civilisations. Travellers can taste classic dishes such as mole negro, tlayudas, and chapulines, scour regional markets like Mercado Benito Juárez, and partake in cooking courses to know customary cooking techniques.
Bangkok, Thailand
Travellers can tour the city’s lively night markets, savour local specialities from diverse parts of Thailand, relish its flavourful sauces and partake in food excursions to uncover covert culinary treasures.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a famous culinary tourism destination due to the fusion of classic Catalan cuisine and ingenious culinary sensations. Travellers can dine on tapas and seafood at dynamic food markets like La Boqueria, eat at avant-garde eateries like Tickets and Disfrutar, and scour the city’s wine bistros and vermuterias.
Marrakech, Morocco
Travellers can relish Moroccan street food at Djemaa el-Fna square, relish classic Moroccan tea ceremonies and aromatic tangines, and partake in cookery lessons to know the enigmas of Moroccan cuisine.
Benefits of Culinary Tourism
Culinary tourism presents several benefits for both visitors and regions:
1. Cultural Immersion: Culinary tourism lets travellers enthral themselves in the regional culture through its foodstuffs.
2. Unique Experiences: Culinary tourism presents exceptional experiences beyond usual tourist lures and offers prospects for genuine and immersive happenings.
3. Support for Local Communities: It sustains local economies by yielding income for eateries, food producers, farmers, and crafters. It creates employment, holds culinary practices, and encourages sustainable tourism that helps residents.
4. Culinary Education: Culinary tourism offers educational and skill-building prospects. Visitors can learn about diverse cooking methods, elements, and culinary practices.
5. Health and Well-being: It promotes fitness and well-being by facilitating visitors to scour healthy and wholesome food choices.
6. Social Connections: Food brings people closer and together and facilitates social relations. Culinary tourism lets people link with residents and fellow visitors over shared feasts, forming everlasting memories and friendships.
7. Environment Sustainability: It is helping in environment sustainability by aiding sustainable food traditions, like farm-to-table dining and organic farming, and minimising food waste.
Conclusion
Culinary tourism in 2024 will flourish as a vibrant and rising element of the travel industry, presenting visitors the chance to explore the world via its myriad culinary practices and savours. From testing street food in the markets to eating at Michelin-starred eateries and partaking in cooking lessons, culinary tourism delivers genuine and original experiences more than a usual tourist interest. By interacting with regional chefs, food producers, farmers, and crafters, visitors get insights into the traditions, practices, and past while supporting regional economies and preserving culinary heritage. As travellers look out for genuine and influential experiences, culinary tourism is a favoured choice, providing several possibilities for quest, discovery, and association in the coming years. Book your flights and hotels to culinary capitals around the world with MyFlightPal.