What’s the most delicious and memorable meal you have ever enjoyed on holiday?
A bowl of freshly made pasta in Italy? Fragrantly spiced street food in Thailand? A succulent steak washed down with Malbec in Argentina?
Trying local cuisine while overseas is nothing new but thanks to the recent burgeoning of cooking programmes on TV and the continued march towards more “experiential” trips, food and drink has become a driver for travel like never before.
The World Food Travel Association says more than four-fifths of travellers today want to learn about local food and drink on their holiday, and that more than half will take oh-so-shareable photos of food when they travel.
From food festivals and Michelin-starred restaurants to vineyard tours and cooking schools, the modern traveller wants to taste a destination as much as see it.Our feature on gastronomy travel in this issue looks at the increasing value placed on culinary experiences by travellers, and how tourist boards and tour operators are – pardon the pun – catering for it.
Elsewhere, we consider how Brand USA has been harnessing big-budget movies to bring its message to the world, how a Danish tour operator has become the latest budget transatlantic airline, and how recent changes to data protection regulations will affect companies globally – not just in Europe.
We also bring you highlights from the recent WTM Latin America, WTM Africa and Arabian Travel Market events, and take a closer look at tourism trends in Greece, Switzerland, Japan, Dundee and beyond.I hope you enjoy this second edition of our recently launched magazine; there’s certainly plenty to digest!
Pippa Jacks
Group Editor
WTM Insights
This new editorially-led magazine provides an unrivalled opportunity to engage year-round with the WTM’s unique database of over 300,000 of the world’s most influential travel professionals. For more information on WTM advertising opportunities, click here.
Tunisia’s recovery from the impact of two devastating terrorist attacks three years ago has gathered pace during 2018. Figures from the country’s tourism ministry show that visitor ... Read more
Changing consumer habits and technological advances are driving the car hire market into the digital age. Jenny Southan reports. At the end of last year I spent ... Read more
It took until 2018 for Dundee to even think about promoting itself, with VisitDundee being set up in preparation for the opening of the V&A in the ... Read more
Last year the Swiss tourism industry experienced a record-breaking year in many markets, after a challenging period dominated by a strong Swiss franc and over-reliance on travellers ... Read more
Brand USA is thinking big in its marketing approach – big screen that is. Peter Ellegard speaks to chief marketing officer Tom Garzilli America has taken to ... Read more
Egypt is working hard to recoup visitor numbers lost due to the continued ban on flights to Sharm el Sheikh airport, reports Katherine Lawrey The Egyptian State ... Read more
Denmark’s Primera Air is spreading its wings with budget transatlantic flights, as chief commercial officer Anastasija Visnakova tells Gary Noakes Look – no pizza colours, no ads,” ... Read more
The EU’s new data protection rules, known as GDPR, are now in place and could have a global impact on the travel industry, Rob Gill reports. During ... Read more
Once an afterthought to a holiday, food is now central to the experience and tourist boards are realising this, Charlotte Cullinan finds. Food tourism is booming, and ... Read more