While food tourism is a relatively new concept to consider for those completing tourism marketing courses, it's already something that's incredibly popular. In fact, according to the World Food Travel Association, 53% of leisure travellers are looking for memorable food and drink experiences.
What are the characteristics of a culinary destination?
Locales that tend to be popular in food tourism are those with a unique and distinctive feel to their cuisine. As travel marketing courses demonstrate, there are many areas from the Mediterranean to the States that can offer this kind of experience, so the options are many and varied.
What is the future of culinary tourism?
Well, it's a sector that's expected to experience substantial growth of around 16.8% annually until at least 2027, so there are rich pickings for anyone looking for a career path with longevity. After the misery that was the pandemic, people are eager to get out there and enjoy these enjoyable holidays.
Incredibly Varied Experiences On Offer
Food tourism may well be just a subset of the overall opportunities available to anyone taking a tourism management course; it’s one that can be interpreted in so many different ways and at so many different levels. The types of experience available can vary greatly and might involve any of the following…
- Sampling ‘Street Food’ in unique places like Jamaica, Colombia & The Phillippines
- Participation in food festivals & events
- Visiting local markets and trying foods for the first time
- Taking tours along local production routes
- Getting involved in local cooking classes
- Visiting rice fields in Vietnam, India & China
In all honesty, this list could be as long as you want it to be, as the term ‘food tourism’ covers anything relating to the appreciation of gastronomy. So, anything relating to food vendors, restaurants, markets and farms is going to qualify. Let’s face it - people just love trying new foods!
The Positive Side Effects of Food Tourism
As well as offering unique experiences for visitors, food tourism also does much to support the local communities being visited. Take free online courses on the subject, and you'll soon see both the economic and cultural benefits provided that help to protect the community's identity.
Much is written about the negative impact of tourism. Still, offering tours that allow people to sample an authentic meal or culinary experience helps to support local businesses and safeguard their legacy.
This is a pastime that extols the virtues of leaving an area and culture untouched so that others can enjoy unique parts of the world and what they offer for many years to come. Food is the element that allows this to happen, and it’s one reason why food tourism is growing the way it is.
Access Rewarding Tourism Careers With Online Course Training
As we can see, food tourism is a niche that's enjoyable for both vacationers and professionals alike. The great news is that it's a sector that anyone can get into, thanks to cheap, video-based CPD Endorsed short courses online from OCA, like our Travel & Tourism Advanced Course.
Coming with 1-to-1 mentoring support, our learning is highly stimulating and a cut above text-based options - check out our Student Study Demo to see for yourself! Alternatively, if you’d like to know more about our full course library that covers 20+ industries, visit us at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au.
However, if you have some questions you'd like answered before you enrol, we're more than happy to assist in any way we can. Simply call us on 1300 611 404 or drop us an email at [email protected], and we'll do our utmost to provide the answers you need.
