While some people travel to see historic sights or hit the road in search of boutiques and souvenirs, more and more people are getting bit by the culinary travel bug.
Whether you plan to travel solely for delicious eats or just hope to pepper some delectable restaurants into your itinerary, culinary tourism is essential to modern travel.
Simply put, culinary tourism is the act of traveling to find great food. It includes any experience where you learn about, appreciate, consume, or indulge in food or drinks that reflect the local culture.
The further the distance traveled, the more comprehensive the range of culinary opportunities. Culinary tourism isn't solely about your food or the luxurious restaurants you splurge on. Instead, it's about eating adventurously and seeking out novel culinary experiences.
The development of food culture can help a tourist destination draw new visitors. Since food often reflects an entire nation's eating habits, culinary tourism can teach visitors valuable cultural lessons.
Countries are often associated with particular foods – people will travel across the world to eat the best pizza in Italy or the best ramen in Japan. Every country and culture is an opportunity to try new and different foods.