Travel Trends: Culinary Travel

Culinary tourism is the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences, both near and far. Millenials make up a large percentage of today’s travelers, and if there’s one thing we know from scrolling their social meida content, it’s that they are seriously into food. However the trend is quickly spreading to other age ranges. The appeal is universal, and travelers are biting. Today’s travelers are inundated with images of food and drink, from the everyday to the sublime. In fact, an astounding 95% of American travelers say they are interested in some kind of unique local food experience when they travel. And what’s more, an estimated 40% of tourism spending is on gastronomy (the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food, or the food of a specific area). In fact, many travelers choose to stay in a vacation rental over a hotel because of the kitchen. In addition to the fact that a full kitchen gives families yet another place to gather and allows them to save money by not having to eat every meal at a restaurant, it also offers the opportunity to try cooking the local fare. Especially in our area, where fresh seafood and locally grown ingredients are so abundant, many guests are eager to experience the culinary delight of preparing their own “hooked and cooked” meal. And keep this in mind: a study by TripAdvisor found that 83% of travelers thought the kitchen was the most important travel accommodation. As you are replenishing your kitchen inventory this fall, remember it is essential to provide renters with kitchen necessities to prepare a memorable local meal and store leftovers.