New York,
19
June
2017
|
15:33 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Eat your way around the world: Booking.com brings you the top destinations to indulge in global delicacies

  • Hong Kong, Sao Paulo and Tokyo are the top cities for food fans across the globe
  • Las Vegas, Nevada is the most popular in the United States

With three quarters (75%) of global travelers saying that they’d likely travel somewhere renowned for its great food and drink when choosing their next travel destination[1], culinary travel is a trend on the rise. The joy of trying and eating delicious new dishes while traveling can make a trip to remember. Booking.com—the global leader in connecting travelers with the widest selection of incredible places to stay—uncovers the top food destinations around the world, as endorsed by Booking.com travelers[2]. Now you can discover these gastronomic hotspots on your next getaway!

Foodie Favorites: The Global Hotspots

Among the over 118 million real traveler reviews on Booking.com, food stands out as a clear passion for many, representing a central theme in countless reviews. The data reveals Asian and South American flavors feature highly in the top 10 foodie favorite destinations, with Greece, Australia and Spain also included. At the top of the list are Hong Kong, with its famous dim sum, São Paulo with Brazilian barbecue, and Tokyo, whose restaurants have accrued more Michelin stars than New York and Paris combined[3].

Top 25 cities globally endorsed for food by Booking.com travelers

1

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

2

Sao Paulo, Brazil

3

Tokyo, Japan

4

Athens, Greece

5

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

6

Melbourne, Australia

7

Bangkok, Thailand

8

Granada, Spain

9

Las Vegas, USA

10

Buenos Aires, Argentina

11

Singapore, Singapore

12

Warsaw, Poland

13

Porto, Portugal

14

Valencia, Spain

15

Florence, Italy

16

Milan, Italy

17

Sydney, Australia

18

Krakow, Poland

19

Istanbul, Turkey

20

Lisbon, Portugal

21

Munich, Germany

22

Copenhagen, Denmark

23

Seville, Spain

24

Brussels, Belgium

25

Rome, Italy

The United States Taste Tour: The Local Favorites

In the US, the top spot for food as endorsed by Booking.com travelers from the US is Las Vegas, Nevada, which has packed in more than 40 celebrity chef-lead restaurants[4].

Gastronomic Tourism

Booking.com reveals that when choosing their next travel destination, the majority (75%) of global travelers would likely travel somewhere known for its great food and drink. It’s millennials who are most eager to combine travel and food, with 79% of travelers between the ages of 18 and 34 considering traveling somewhere that’s specifically known for its gastronomic delights[5].

Almost one in 10 (8%) people have traveled in the last year to fulfill their hobby of fine dining, and seven percent for their passion for wine. Millennials are most interested in satisfying their passion for food while traveling, with one in 10 (10%) combining their love of street food with traveling – compared to only four percent of travelers over 55 years old[6].

Pepijn Rijvers, Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com comments:

“Culinary travel is an ever-growing trend, with travelers planning trips centered on taste-inspired exploration and seeking to fully immerse themselves in the local culture, of which food plays a huge part. Not only are people looking for luxury gastronomic experiences, but also sampling local and street food.

By using real traveler reviews, of which there are over 118 million on Booking.com and growing every day, we’re able to help travelers discover the best places to explore, as recommended by fellow travelers – from the best neighborhoods and dishes to try, to discovering hidden gems beyond the mainstream culinary destinations.”

 

[1]According to data collected by Booking.com with 12,781 respondents across 13 markets in September 2016. Respondents had to be 18 years or older, had to have traveled at least once in 2016, and had to be planning at least one trip for 2017. All respondents had to consider themselves part of their travel decision-making process

[2] To find the top 25 destinations, Booking.com looked at destinations that had the most endorsements for “food” by global Booking.com travelers, which needed to have over 300 endorsements or more for “food” between January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016 to be considered.

[3] http://uk.businessinsider.com/cities-with-the-most-michelin-stars-in-the-world-2016-12/#2-kyoto-japan-135-stars-17

[4] Booking.com analysts looked at destinations that had the most endorsements for “food” by Booking.com travelers from that country, which needed to have over 300 endorsements or more for “food” to be considered.

[5] According to data collected by Booking.com with 12,781 respondents across 13 markets in September 2016. Respondents had to be 18 years or older, had to have traveled at least once in 2016, and had to be planning at least one trip for 2017. All respondents had to consider themselves part of their travel decision-making process.

[6] According to data collected by Booking.com with 12,781 respondents across 13 markets in September 2016. Respondents had to be 18 years or older, had to have traveled at least once in 2016, and had to be planning at least one trip for 2017. All respondents had to consider themselves part of their travel decision-making process.