Food is One of the Fastest Growing Traveler Interests
Portland, Oregon, USA - 27 March 2012 - Food is one of the fastest growing interests among travelers according to the International Culinary Tourism Association. This is no surprise as everyone loves a good meal, and discovering a destination's food and drink are something that almost everyone enjoys. “Not everyone will visit a museum or rollercoaster, but everyone has to eat and drink,” says Erik Wolf, President of the Association. “It's an opportunity to turn every meal into a wonderful memory, regardless whether you're traveling just across town or across the world.”
Documenting the Growth
The Association offers the following evidence in support of the tremendous growth in the culinary tourism industry:
- The number of consumer requests received via the Association's website continue to grow and are nearly at their 2008 (pre-Recession) level.
- The number of consumer-oriented restaurant information websites has grown from less than a dozen in 2003 to 173 today.
- The number of culinary tour operators around the world has grown from just a handful in 2003 to nearly 150 today.
- The Association's membership has grown to more than 16,000 food and tourism trade professionals since 2003, when the Association was founded.
Reasons For Growth & Why Culinary Travel Is Important
Our fascination with food has surged a number of reasons, the most important of which is the fact that everyone on the planet eats and drinks. Other reasons include the proliferation of food programs on television; consumer concerns over GMO, hormones, chemicals and other food additives; and the obesity epidemic. “Culinary travel” is just taking our food and drink purchase behavior on the road. “Sharing the food and drink of another culture is one of the best ways to get to know that culture,” says Wolf. While this sounds perfect in a land of milk and honey, foodies around the world face a growing threat to the enjoyment of these culinary cultures - namely the proliferation of chain restaurants. According to the Association, food and drink chains actually affect a community more like an economic Trojan horse than an economic boon. In exchange for mostly hourly wage jobs and maybe the purchase of local food, chains can benefit to the tune of millions of dollars per outlet per year from local residents and travelers. As the number of chains grows, they overshadow our own unique culinary cultures. If consumers want to preserve their access to unique food and drink choices and experiences, then they must support independent food & drink businesses, even when traveling.
Consumers Can Help Support Local Food Businesses
To help preserve the voice of local food and drink businesses, the Association has partnered with FoodTrekker.com, which has just soft launched in its hometown of Portland, Oregon, USA. Consumers interested in supporting the project and expanding the website to the intended global audience can support the campaign at www.indiegogo.com/foodtrekker. Television food personality Harry Pagancoss and James Beard-award winning cookbook author Aliza Green are just two of the foodie celebrities who support FoodTrekker.
What “Culinary Travel” Really Means
“Culinary travel” is much more than visiting restaurants or indulging in gourmet experiences. In fact, gourmet enthusiasts account for only 8.1% of all foodies - a definite minority. The Association counts 13 different culinary tourism business types, including restaurants, wineries, breweries, cooking schools, farms and farmers markets, culinary tours, food manufacturers, cookbook stores and more.
About The International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA)
The ICTA is the world's leading authority on culinary travel. Its mission is to preserve and promote the world's culinary cultures. It provides education and product development tools to its 16,000 members in 120 countries, which comprise the world's food and travel industries.
For More Information
Erik Wolf, CEO and Founder,
[email protected],
(+1) 503-213-3700
@erikwolfaticta www.culinarytourism.org
facebook.com/ErikWolfatICTA
Youtube.com/FoodietheFox
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