‘Gastronomic tourism’ catching up globally

22 August 2007

A comparatively new kind of tourism, what may be called gastronomic tourism, is gaining popularity across the world. In gastronomic tourism, food and beverages are the main factors that motivate a person to travel to a particular destination.

Studies conducted into the new phenomenon have shown that food plays, consciously or unconsciously, an important part in the holiday experience of a goOd number of travelers.

Tourism authorities around the world are now recognizing the potential of gastronomic tourism as a powerful instrument to identify and promote places, regions or even entire countries.

Global trends have identified that the so-called gastronomic tourists are looking for a more participatory style of holiday experience, which satisfies their interest in food and beverages and contributes to their personal development and social status.


Analysts have noticed a shift from ‘passive observation’ to ‘interaction and involvement’ in tourists, whereby the visitor comes into close contact with locals and their way of life rather than be a mere spectator.


As food and beverages are increasingly becoming one of the main reasons for travel, several countries are attempting in a big way to combine food, beverage and culture into a total tourism experience – which should be authentic and reflecting the local and unique flavors of a particular country.

A good case in point is the World Cuisines Show 2008 (WCS ‘08), to be held in Singapore, on July 25-27, 2008.

The World Cuisines Show 2008 is intended to be a global marketplace where countries around the world gather under one roof to showcase their national cuisines and cultural activities. Tourism authorities from over 130 countries have been invited to participate in this inaugural international event.

According to officials of the Singapore Food Expo (SFE), the longest-running local food show in Singapore, held in 2006, had attracted 720,000 visitors.

The first-ever World Cuisine Show 2008 in Singapore is expected to attract more visitors to experience the wide varieties of cuisines and culture that all the participating countries will bring under one roof, according to one of the event directors of the World Cuisine Show 2008.