Survey shows that more young people are indulging in food tourism. Conversely, young people are also the most likely to avoid a region because of the food – accounting for nearly half of all respondents aged 18-24, and 38 per cent of those aged 25-34, with these numbers consistently dropping as ages rose.
A new survey has shown that over 40 per cent of travellers aged 18-34 have chosen a holiday destination specifically because they wanted to try a certain type of food – a figure in stark contrast with the over-65s, of whom only 11 per cent let their stomachs do the decision-making.
The YourSayPays survey was carried out by holiday finance experts International Currency Exchange (ICE), and looked into how different people’s attitudes toward foreign food abroad can differ according to generation. The report found that of the youngest group, aged 18-34, over a quarter admitted that food was the only thing they considered when booking a holiday abroad, while a further 38 per cent hold it as a key consideration. Conversely, young people are also the most likely to avoid a region because of the food – accounting for nearly half of all respondents aged 18-24, and 38 per cent of those aged 25-34, with these numbers consistently dropping as ages rose.
Of course, certain cultural barriers also play a part; while restaurant cleanliness came top in the list of priorities for trying a new restaurants abroad, many young people also stated that not being able to speak the language would dissuade them from eating there. Worrying about hygiene in a strange country is quite normal, but not being able to ask about the ingredients or flavour of certain dishes was enough to put off over 13 per cent of young people, while those over 45 largely didn’t consider it a problem. Answers were split between those seeking authenticity and those who prefer food that catered to a British palate, with those over 35 preferring to play it safe and go for tourist hotspots when it came to finding a restaurant.
Tom Johnson, Head of Online Business at ICE commented: “The advent of the internet and the cultural exchange that comes out of that has definitely made an impact on how we perceive foreign foods. We all know somebody who takes pictures of their food at mealtimes, and nowadays it only takes one snapshot of a bowl of noodles in Tokyo to have somebody’s stomach rumbling in Birmingham! We think it’s a really positive sign that travellers are becoming more adventurous, and the potential for the food tourism trade is only growing stronger and stronger as a result.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
