The Trends Defining Food Tourism

THE TRENDS DEFINING

FOOD TO URI S M

BRANDON GLICKSTEIN Co-Founder & Integrator at Monster Lead Group

Co m p a red to travel i n th e late 1 9 9 0 s to early 2 0 0 0s, modernd ay travel ers h ave d i fferent motivations for their trips, with c u l i na r y exp er i en ces em erging as one of the most signif icant fa c t o rs . In d eed , p eop l e a re more open to dedicating significant p o r t i o n s of th ei r travel i ti neraries to exploring the gastronomic d e l i g hts of th ei r d es ti n ations, rather than shopping or seeing t he s i ghts . In s om e c a ses, enjoying the food and drink a cou ntr y h a s to offer is the main reason for travel.

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THE DESIRE FOR AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES The joy of enjoying an authentic meal is something many travelers can relate to and is the motivation for many who are forgoing known food destinations in favor of more exotic locations. Rather than eat at fine dining establishments, these food travelers are enjoying their meals at street vendors, local markets and even at residents’ homes.

PICTURE-PERFECT SETTINGS There is no doubt that social media has helped make food tourism popular, as millions of food photos are shared online daily. The shareable element of this industry is giving rise to beautiful dishes served in picturesque locations.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES Beyond savoring well-prepared authentic meals, many travelers are looking for a more hands-on experience that can include taking food tours and cooking classes. The latter are especially appealing to those looking to learn cooking techniques that are common to a specific region.

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