Gastronomic tourism is a booming trend as long as tourism is increasing all over the world. In particular, Spain has one of the most valued food culture well-known in the world.
Many people consider that gastronomic tourism and general tourism are based on the same thing, and that is not the case. For gastronomic tourism, gastronomy decisively influences the choice of destination and they want to satisfy their hedonic and cultural appetite, beyond the physiological one. However, general tourism is based on simple food while traveling
What is the meaning of gastronomic tourism?
Gastronomic tourism, also called “culinary tourism” or “food tourism”, is a type of tourism that focuses on activities related to the culinary culture of a certain tourist site.
It is the study and tasting of the typical dishes of each country. Culinary art represents, along with landscape, accommodation and climate, one of the fundamental pillars that constitute a tourist product.
Now that we know what gastronomic tourism is, we are going to explain its main characteristics and how it positively affects both the tourist and the region to which they are traveling.
- Gastronomic tourism manages to concentrate the gastronomy of a country, city or region.
- Culinary culture represents an elemental piece within general tourism.
- Within the tourism sector it is considered one of the largest sources of income for a given place.
- For tourists, gastronomy is one of the most valued experiences when traveling.
- It is characterized by the search for new gastronomic experiences.
- Gastronomic tourism is an essential element to understand the culture of a certain region.
- Currently, gastronomy drives 60% of tourism. Tourists greatly appreciate learning about culinary culture and enjoy eating well even more.
What are the benefits of gastronomy tourism?
Gastronomy tourism offers a series of interesting benefits both to tourists and to the place they choose to travel to. So, it is not only important to know what gastronomic tourism is, but it is also essential to know the benefits it can provide:
- Discover new flavors: Each country has its own gastronomic culture, and as such, it is unique in the world. Going in to taste new dishes is an enriching and unforgettable experience.
- Learn new recipes: If you have enjoyed a specific meal, you may want to learn how to prepare it. That is why this type of tourism encourages learning new recipes, as well as their preparation.
- Integrate more into the culture: When visitors from a different country try and enjoy the cuisine of a tourist site, a connection is created with the inhabitants of the place, which encourages the cultural integration of tourists, making them feel more pleasant and comfortable with the place.
- Support the local economy: Gastronomy represents an important source of income for the local economy. For this reason, gastronomic tourism favors the consumption of products from restaurants, local establishments and smaller food stalls.
- Expand knowledge about culinary art: Each culture has its own art when preparing food. By studying his way of making his dishes, contemplating them when they are finished and finally tasting them, he offers a series of experiences and knowledge about culinary art and cooking in general, truly appreciable.
Gastronomic tourism in Madrid
Madrid is one of the cities par excellence destination for gastronomic tourism and a good example of this is the great gastronomic variety it offers, even from other regions of Spain, such as the Paella that we prepare in Cocinea in our gastronomic activities.
Gastronomic tourism, in addition to offering so many benefits, also brings other good things for tourists, such as:
- Take gastronomic tours to explore different varieties depending on the area.
- Buy products from local stores, such as prepared foods or ingredients.
- Attend gastronomic fairs as leisure, fun and learning to learn more about the culinary culture of the region.
- Sign up for cooking courses to prepare new dishes with professional chefs: tourists will have the opportunity to enjoy this activity at Cocinea whenever they decide to pass through Madrid. An experience they will never forget!
If you are looking for accommodation for your gastronomic tourism route, we recommend the quehoteles website, where you will find a multitude of options at good prices
Type of gastronomic tourists
In the world of gastronomy there are different palates, tastes and ways of seeing and feeling this type of tourism. Next, we will talk about all the types of gastronomic tourists that exist:
- Responsible tourists: Gastronomic tourists who view this art responsibly are those who see in gastronomy a way to take care of what feeds us, that is, they are a faithful defender of animals and an environmentalist. Furthermore, these types of tourists are passionate about knowing the procedure for manufacturing food and how it affects our planet and the food chain.
- Wine lover: the wine lover is a consumer who has great respect for the world of wine, who is passionate about tasting and exploring different types of wines on their outings. He loves to consume wine at meetings or parties and, above all, listens to experts to learn more about the sector.
- Gourmet: his compass is his sense of taste and his passion for gastronomy is what motivates him to discover the world. He is a meticulous tourist who seeks exclusivity and difference in the dishes he tastes.
Other culinary tourists
- Cosmopolitan: he is the most liberal of all. He is a type of tourist who loves to try all kinds of dishes, regardless of the country or region. For these tourists there is nothing stipulated.
- Cook: is the typical person who not only loves to cook, but also knows how to do it perfectly. He is a fan of gastronomy and his desire to travel focuses on discovering new products and recipes from which he can learn.
- Foodie: they are people who, without being great experts in either food or wine, feel a great passion for knowing and tasting the typical products of the places they visit, as well as their local drinks or wines.
- Sybarite: is a type of tourist fond of luxury and expensive and refined pleasures. They are the typical people from Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Gourmand: is the typical person who eats absolutely everything they put in front of him, enjoys food very much and loves to try new flavors and experiences.
