India’s Culinary Tourism Likely To Be Worth Over $182.5 Billion By 2033; 45% Of Indian Tourists Prioritise Good Food While Travelling

Travelling to new destinations is no longer only about exploring breathtaking locations and enjoying touristy experiences. The industry has changed over the years with transitions in globetrotters’ preferences and desires to try something new. Have you heard of culinary tourism? This travel trend is on the rise globally and is establishing a large market in India as well. To know more about the purpose of tourism, read on.

India’s Culinary Tourism Is Growing Significantly

While choosing travel destinations and planning itineraries, a huge section of tourists consider food and gastronomic experiences a crucial part of planning their vacations. From delicacies to relish to restaurants to explore, travellers are gaining more interest in exploring this parameter before heading for the trip. Many look forward to their holidays to tick off destinations from their bucket lists and savour appetising dishes while visiting these places.

India’s culinary tourism market has grown multifold over the last few years. The great news is that it is expected to report a huge growth in the upcoming decade as well. According to the Future Market Insights Report published last year, this key market in India is likely to report a boost of over $182.5 billion by 2033. In 2023, it was worth over $23 billion.

Culinary tourism offers the much-needed opportunity to deep dive into the vast local cuisines of different holiday destinations and indulge in a feast of authentic taste. A survey released by SOTC revealed the names of the top Indian cities that are famous among travellers for trying out local dishes and understanding destinations better with the food options they offer. The list of such cities includes Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kerala, and Lucknow, a report by The Financial Express mentioned.

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Love For Food, Travel & Beyond!

SOTC Travel’s India Holiday Survey Report revealed interesting information about Indians’ travel preferences these days. About 45 per cent of tourists from India choose food to be a significant part of their holidays and plan their trips accordingly.

According to a report by the Food Travel Monitor, 53 per cent of travel enthusiasts select holiday destinations based on their food choices. In addition, 95 per cent of travellers worldwide consider themselves food travellers, Jersey Island Holidays shared.

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A survey from October 2024 highlighted appetite is an influential aspect for many Indian travellers flying to Thailand, Turkey, and Laos. Food connoisseurs from different parts of the world love to visit India for gastronomic experiences. Most travellers from Vietnam and Japan visit our country to gorge on local cuisines.

What are your thoughts about culinary tourism?

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva

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First Published: October 21, 2024 1:03 PM