PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1806468
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1806468
Culinary tourism involves traveling to different destinations to experience and savor their distinctive food and drink offerings, often through various engaging activities. This type of tourism provides travelers with an immersive experience of the culinary heritage and flavors of their destinations.
Key activities in culinary tourism include culinary trails, cooking classes, dining at restaurants, attending food festivals, and other related experiences. Culinary trails consist of organized routes or itineraries that guide tourists through locations renowned for their unique food offerings. Tourist types vary and include recreational, diversionary, existential, and experimental travelers, spanning different age groups such as baby boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. Culinary tourism can focus on local, national, or international experiences, and is facilitated through various booking channels including online travel agencies (OTAs), tour operators, and direct travel arrangements.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sudden escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the recreation sector, especially in the supply of imported sports gear, outdoor equipment, and leisure products. Manufacturers and retailers are grappling with increased costs for goods like bicycles, camping supplies, fitness equipment, and gaming consoles-many of which rely heavily on international supply chains with few domestic alternatives. Small recreational retailers are particularly vulnerable, with some cutting back on stock or raising prices to manage shrinking profit margins. Event organizers and recreational venues are also experiencing rising costs for imported materials and equipment. In response, the industry is shifting toward suppliers in non-tariff regions, boosting local procurement efforts, and advocating for tariff exemptions on widely used recreational goods.
The culinary tourism market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides culinary tourism market statistics, including culinary tourism industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a culinary tourism market share, detailed culinary tourism market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the culinary tourism industry. This culinary tourism market research report delivers a complete perspective on everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The culinary tourism market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $924.8 billion in 2024 to $1067.95 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to the rise of food-centric television shows, the proliferation of social media food content, increasing global travel and exploration, the growing popularity of local and sustainable food movements, expansion of food festivals and events, increasing interest in cultural and culinary heritage.
The culinary tourism market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1902.27 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing disposable income and travel spending, growing interest in experiential travel, the rise of personalized and niche culinary tours, heightened focus on sustainable and ethical food practices, and expansion of food tourism marketing by destinations. Major trends in the forecast period include expanding interest in street food and local delicacies, the popularity of culinary workshops and cooking classes, the integration of culinary tourism with cultural and historical tours, the rise of plant-based and health-focused food tours, and the emergence of digital nomad-friendly culinary destinations.
The forecast of 15.5% growth over the next five years reflects a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. Increased tariffs on imported specialty food products and culinary equipment may restrict the diversity and appeal of high-end gastronomic travel. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.
The rising number of international travelers is expected to drive the growth of the culinary tourism market. International travelers, who cross national borders for purposes such as tourism, business, or education, are increasing due to improved global connectivity, higher disposable incomes, and a growing interest in diverse experiences. Culinary tourism enhances the experience of international travelers by allowing them to sample local dishes and gain insights into the culture and traditions of their destinations. For example, in February 2024, the International Trade Administration reported that the number of international visitors to the United States is projected to rise to 77.7 million in 2024, marking an increase of 10.4 million, or 15.4%, from the 67.3 million visitors recorded in 2023. This rise in international travel is expected to drive the growth of the culinary tourism market.
Key players in the culinary tourism market are developing programs that feature world-class and unique dining destinations to enhance the tourist experience. These programs provide accurate navigation to culinary destinations, personalized tour recommendations, and real-time information on local dining options. For instance, in November 2023, the West Virginia Department, a US-based government entity, introduced the West Virginia Culinary Trail. This initiative highlights top restaurants selected by the state's chef ambassadors, encouraging visitors to explore local cuisine. Participants can earn foodie prizes by checking in at these recommended eateries. The trail is continuously updated with new recommendations from ambassadors, inviting travelers to experience both the state's culinary offerings and scenic landscapes.
In June 2022, Abercrombie & Kent, a US-based luxury travel company, purchased Crystal Cruises for $128 million. By acquiring Crystal Cruises, Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) seeks to enhance its luxury travel portfolio and solidify its presence in the upscale cruise market. Crystal Cruises, a US-based luxury cruise line, specializes in premium ocean, river, and expedition cruises.
Major companies operating in the culinary tourism market are The Travel Corporation, City Experiences, Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC, Intrepid Travel Pty Ltd, TourRadar GmbH, G Adventures Inc., Viator Inc., Zicasso Inc., Secret Food Tours, Eating Europe Food Tours, Food Tour Corporation, Greaves Travel Ltd, The International Kitchen, Culinary Backstreets, India Food Tour, Classic Journeys LLC, Context Travel, Epicurean Ways LLC, Gourmet on Tour, The FTC4Lobe Group
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the culinary tourism market in 2024. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the culinary tourism market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the culinary tourism market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The culinary tourism market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as wine and brewery tours, culinary workshops, street food tours, and dining experiences. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Culinary Tourism Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on culinary tourism market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for culinary tourism ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The culinary tourism market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.