What Do Foodies Dream Of?
Key Trends in Gastronomy Tourism
The appetite for delicious journeys continues to grow. 59% of travellers now consider food and drinks during trips more important than they did five years ago. Moreover, it is predicted that by 2025, dining will become the next priority in travel budgeting after accommodation.
That was a little statistical appetizer from our team:
- The gastronomy tourism market is expected to grow by 16.8% from 2022 to 2027.
- 95% of travellers worldwide can be classified as gastronomy tourists.
- 80% of travellers explore local cuisine before visiting a new destination.
- Nearly one in five people travel specifically in search of new restaurants or culinary experiences.
- 70% of people choose destinations based on the local gastronomic culture.
- 95% of travellers stated that culinary traditions influence a destination's ranking. Key factors include variety of cuisine – 73%, regional dishes – 36%, and reputation of dining establishments – 18%.
- 50% of travellers worldwide book restaurant tables at resorts even before their flights.
GASTRO TOUR WITH A CHEF
Who could be a better guide to a region’s culinary culture than a local chef? Discovering regional foods and traditions, shopping for ingredients in hidden spots, and cooking together — while having conversations that immerse you even deeper into the lifestyle and customs of a new destination. Sounds appealing? We know where to make it happen.
- Mamas of Zanzibar. These women may not be professional chefs, but they are experts in Swahili cuisine. A shared dinner is the most authentic way to experience the nuances of community life — especially when you cook it together. So, slip into a traditional kanga (women’s attire), head to the market for ingredients, and take your place in the kitchen. The menu? Nine authentic dishes, no less.
- Dine Around Dubai: a culinary mystery tour by famous food blogger Foodiva, Samantha Wood. This tour offers a WOW experience at three top restaurants in Dubai: champagne in a secret location, exquisite dishes paired with fine wines, a sommelier’s lecture, a tea-and-dessert pairing workshop, and loads of insider insights about 2024’s best gastronomic destination, as shared by Samantha Wood herself*.
*As per the World Culinary Awards 2024
DINING WITH LOCALS
It’s a growing trend that allows travellers and locals to exchange cultural and culinary experiences. This approach offers a unique perspective on a destination through the eyes of its residents while sampling traditional dishes made from family recipes. Several platforms already connect gastronomy tourists with locals, such as EatWith, MealSharing, and VizEat.
For example, dinner with Maasai during a safari in Zanzibar or tea with Bedouins in the deserts of the UAE or Egypt.
Perhaps a cultural breakfast hosted by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) in Dubai? Picture yourself relaxing on Bedouin carpets and cushions, enjoying traditional dishes while chatting with locals about life in the emirate.
SLOW FOOD
Here’s the answer to the prevalence of fast food restaurants and the habit of eating on the go. The Slow Food movement even has a dedicated organization of the same name, founded in Italy in 1986. It now unites over 1,500 members (chefs, farmers, fishers, activists, academics, and producers) from nearly 150 countries. So, what is Slow Food all about? It’s about savouring food, using healthy, minimally processed ingredients, and preserving authentic flavours.
One of Slow Food’s projects, the “Ark of Taste”, popularizes products essential to the cultural heritage of specific regions. These can include rare or nearly forgotten crops, animal breeds, or traditional preparation methods. Each country maintains its list of such products. Can you guess which countries are the record holders? Italy and France. Not too surprising, right? Italy protects 1,200 products under the Ark, and France follows with 310 — together accounting for nearly one-third of the entire list! But Spain isn’t far behind, with 281 products, including a variety of vegetables, saffron, cheeses, meats, and malvasia (local wine and grape varieties).
DRAMATIC DINING
For many gastronomic tourists, simply dining at a venue — no matter how fancy or authentic it may be and regardless of the dishes served — is no longer exciting. It needs to be immersive, spectacular, interactive, and deliver a "Wow!" effect. From narrative menus for dishes and cocktails to restaurants in the sky or dark rooms that sharpen taste and aroma perception, themed meals, or dinner performances. Dramatic Dining transforms a meal into an unforgettable experience.
Where to find it:
- UAE: Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, Queens Grill
- Spain: Barcelona - Tickets, Nua Smart Restaurant, Hidden Factory,
- Barcelona, Madrid - La Petit Chef
- Crete: Alar Dinner Show
Choose your destination with Join UP!™ and let it be both stunning and delicious!
