NEW YORK and LONDON and HONG
KONG, Nov. 19, 2019
/PRNewswire/ -- Travelzoo® (NASDAQ: TZOO), a global publisher
of exclusive offers and experiences for members, has revealed
the desire for authentic cuisine experiences is now one of the
biggest factors influencing travelers' vacation decisions. Trying
new food and experiencing the culinary culture of the destination
is ranked as the second-most popular reason (39%) for going
overseas, just behind getting to see famous landmarks (41%).
Travelzoo's 2019 Fall Travel Trends Survey* also found today's
travelers make an effort to support the local community and economy
while on culinary trips.
Food inspires more people to get off the couch and explore
the world
Of the 9,000 adults surveyed across nine
countries, more than half (53%) of respondents have gone on
vacations for food or food-centered activities. Younger people aged
25 to 44 are twice as likely to go on these journeys of culinary
discovery than people who are 55 or older. Local cuisines are the
most preferred as travelers want to try something new and special
(62%) and/or have an authentic experience to explore the local
culture (54%).
Italian, Chinese and Japanese are the three most popular
cuisines among respondents from all the surveyed countries, while
Thai, Vietnamese and Korean food are the top three cuisines that
respondents are curious to try in the future.
The Chinese stand out as risk takers and high
spenders
Travelzoo's survey shows Chinese consumers are
today's most adventurous foodies. A huge number (96%) of Chinese
respondents have been on a break or vacation centered around food
or culinary experiences, and 70% of them have tried food on
vacation that they had never even heard of before. When asked
whether they would be willing to try non-traditional foods, such as
insects or live animals, Chinese were three times more willing to
do so out of curiosity than travelers from other
countries.
When abroad, Chinese consumers usually spend US$95 per person, per day, on food—about 80% more
than the global average. The use of social media to show off foodie
experiences is popular among travelers, and tech-savvy Chinese
travelers do this the most, with 94% posting food images on social
media. That number is twice as high as that of any other nation in
the survey.
Supporting local community on the rise
The survey
shows travelers are becoming much more receptive to responsible
travel solutions and sustainability concerning food during travel.
When asked what they would take into account when dining abroad,
77% said they want their food to have been sourced locally, to help
support the local economy and community. Millennials are twice as
likely to consider the ethical and sustainable factors around food
than older demographics. Almost half (43%) of respondents stated in
the survey that supporting local people and local communities gives
them a different and valuable experience to be close to the culture
of their chosen destination.
Two-thirds of travelers report that they usually conduct
intensive research to find the best food and restaurant options.
It's clear that curated culinary trips and local dining tips will
inspire today's travelers to explore more new destinations.
Sharry Sun, Global Head of Brand
at Travelzoo, commented: "Authentic gastronomic experience is
a perfect bridge between travelers and the culture and history of
the destinations they visit. At Travelzoo, our global team not only
curates irresistible travel deals, securing members access to
foodie heavens around the world, but also works directly with local
restaurants and experience providers to enable members to enjoy
local community and culture in a responsible way."
About the Travelzoo Fall Travel Trends
Survey
*Travelzoo Travel Trends Surveys are conducted four
times a year, in spring, summer, fall and winter. The 2019
Travelzoo Fall Travel Trends Survey was completed by 9,000
people across Australia,
Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Spain,
the UK and the USA, who responded
to an online questionnaire used by research agency OnePoll.
About Travelzoo
Travelzoo® provides our 28 million
members insider deals and one-of-a-kind experiences personally
reviewed by one of our deal experts around the globe. With more
than 25 offices worldwide, we have our finger on the pulse of
outstanding travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. For
over 15 years we have worked in partnership with more than 2,000
top travel suppliers—our long-standing relationships give Travelzoo
members access to irresistible deals.
Travelzoo and Top 20 are registered trademarks of Travelzoo. All
other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
Media contact:
Christie McConnell – New York
+1 212 484 4967
cmcconnell@travelzoo.com
Cat Jordan – London
+44 20 7420 0416
cjordan@travelzoo.com
Kelvin Chong – Hong Kong
+852 3127 8077
kchong@travelzoo.com
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SOURCE Travelzoo