Gastronomic tourism is gaining more and more followers around the world. If you're a lover of good food and drink, you might already be part of this group. This is because travelers don't just want to enjoy the exotic landscapes and buildings to take beautiful photos. Today , the desire to experience local gastronomic culture while traveling is growing.
This is such a common reason for adventurers that the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has held the World Gastronomy Tourism Forum since 2015. The event brings together experts to identify gastronomic tourism practices and promote trends as a factor in the sustainable development of nations.
So, if you're planning to venture into unfamiliar destinations in the coming years, it's worth learning more about gastronomic tourism. Don't leave without seeing how this is an exciting way to learn about new cultures through cuisine.
After all, what is gastronomic tourism?
Good food tourism is a way to explore cuisine beyond the plate—getting to know firsthand the influences, production chain, stories, and legends behind the creation of a typical food or drink. This is, without a doubt, an added spice that makes a difference in our dining experience.
That's why we like to say that gastronomic tourism values cuisine as a heritage of humanity , an activity through which we can identify the regional identity of a people, the relationship between society and food.
Practicing gastronomic tourism, therefore, goes far beyond walking around with a list of restaurants to visit when you arrive at your destination.
It's an activity that includes, for example, visiting local markets and fairs, trying street food, and learning about food production. The activities are endless, vary by destination, and involve a range of stakeholders: restaurants, markets, farms, street stalls, galleries, etc.
What are the benefits of gastronomic tourism? Why support it?
If you're already a regular reader of our blog, you probably already know that we really enjoy talking about the meanings and culture behind Quetzalli .
We know that a lot of history lies in the flavors and sensations involved in trying a good drink. That's why gastronomic tourism is one of our favorite things to do. Here are some advantages of supporting this type of experience:
Stimulates local economic development
In addition to having a more intimate and enriching experience, travelers who enjoy gastronomic tourism activities help develop the economies of many regions that depend on this type of business to maintain good living conditions.
Gastronomic tourism activities bring people closer to the different layers of food production, which is an interesting experience and capable of generating a wealth of learning for those who participate.
Strengthens people's connection with food
New knowledge is built with quality information, but it's a pleasant experience that can truly leave a lasting impression on a person. For this reason, gastronomic tourism is an excellent way to enhance the connection between people, places, and food, whether abroad or in Brazil itself. Many people don't know exactly what they put on their plates when they eat, and this is largely due to the lack of transparency in our relationship with food. So, in addition to staying up to date with the " clean label " trend, it's worth visiting local producers, attending fairs, and participating in other gastronomic tourism activities.
What are the best destinations?
There's no shortage of attractions for gastronomic tourism. Check out some destinations in Brazil and abroad.
In Brazil
Gastronomic tourism in Brazil is one of the strongest drivers of our economy. It's not just foreigners who come here and experience our cuisine, as Brazilians travel extensively between the country's five regions.
In the North , for example, we took the opportunity to learn about the foods and food production that involve chestnuts and açaí, two typical ingredients of the region.
The Northeast , besides being known for its seafood, is where we can easily find dishes like sun-dried meat, tapioca and the good Bahian acarajé.
The Southeast surprises with varieties, such as cheese bread, feijão tropeiro (beans with tropeiro) and São Paulo snacks.
The South , with its German, Italian and Polish influences, is a hit with tourists, especially if we think of the wines from Rio Grande do Sul and the pine nuts from Paraná.
The Central-West region is also not far behind in terms of influences, especially from other parts of the country. Among the region's options are exotic meats from Brasília, piranha broth in Campo Grande, and rice with pequi from Goiás, among others.
Abroad
If you're considering gastronomic tourism in other countries, the options are vast. Across five continents, you can find great tours to sample every kind of delicacy you can imagine. Our special suggestion is in Central America, more specifically, Mexico. We're talking about the small Mexican town of Tequila, the birthplace of the world's most famous distilled spirit. There, you can witness the tequila production process up close on a guided tour, as well as visit the National Tequila Museum, located in an old 19th-century mansion. It's a great opportunity to learn about the history of the drink!
How to explore new flavors without leaving home?
Those who don't want to wait for their next trip to try new flavors can rely on the internet. It's not hard to find online stores that ship food and drinks steeped in history all over Brazil! So, did you enjoy learning about gastronomic tourism?
