Culinary Tourism Market Report 2026

The culinary tourism market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $1.06 trillion in 2025 to $1.23 trillion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing global travel activity, rising interest in cultural tourism, expansion of restaurant and food service industries, growing influence of social media on travel choices, development of regional food tourism offerings.

The culinary tourism market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.19 trillion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for immersive cultural experiences, rising focus on sustainable and local food systems, expansion of experiential travel packages, growing use of digital booking and review platforms, increasing collaboration between tourism and hospitality sectors. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for authentic food and beverage experiences, rising popularity of food festivals and culinary trails, expansion of farm-to-table and local cuisine tourism, increasing integration of digital food discovery platforms, enhanced focus on experiential dining activities.

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 July 2024, Busch Systems International Inc., a Canada-based provider of sustainable waste, recycling, and composting solutions, partnered with the Culinary Tourism Alliance to grow food tourism by leveraging local food culture and experiences, supporting the Feast On Signature Experiences program to improve sustainability practices across culinary tourism events and activities. Through this partnership, both organizations seek to promote environmental stewardship and responsible waste management at culinary tourism events, thereby enhancing the sustainability profile of food-focused travel experiences. The Culinary Tourism Alliance is a Canada-based organization dedicated to destination development, marketing, and community engagement aimed at expanding food tourism through authentic culinary experiences.

Major companies operating in the culinary tourism market are Abercrombie and Kent, Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, Classic Journeys, The International Kitchen, Secret Food Tours, Eating Europe Food Tours, Culinary Backstreets, India Food Tour, Epicurean Ways, Gourmet on Tour, Context Travel, Greaves Travel, Food Tour Corporation, Walks Worldwide, Backroads, Tastes and Traditions, Flavors of the World, World Food Travel Association, Slow Tours.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the culinary tourism market in 2025. 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, South East Asia, 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, Taiwan, 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.

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