Savor the Journey: Food and Beverage Tourism Booms in 2025 with Experiential Dining and Local Flavor
As Pooja Bedi revisits the past with Farah Khan, Alaya F is left 'amused & perplexed'
Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) In 2025, food and beverage tourism has grown far beyond restaurant hopping—it's now a global phenomenon connecting cultures, communities, and travelers through immersive culinary experiences. As people increasingly seek authenticity and local connection through what they eat and drink, food has become the centerpiece of travel rather than just a part of the journey.
Culinary Experiences Are the New Souvenirs
Today’s food tourists aren’t just sampling—they’re kneading, fermenting, pairing, and plating. From olive oil harvesting in Tuscany to sourdough-making in San Francisco and toddy tapping in Kerala, travelers are choosing experiences where they learn, engage, and eat what they create.
Food tours that include hands-on cooking classes with locals, farm-to-table dining, and street food crawls are among the most-booked travel activities, according to recent data from international booking platforms.
Rise of Beverage Trails and Liquid Tourism
Beverage tourism is booming, with a fresh focus on regional wines, craft beers, specialty teas, and artisanal coffee. In 2025, destinations like Nashik (India), Douro Valley (Portugal), and Yunnan (China) are offering curated trails that blend tastings with education, culture, and scenery.
Travelers are flocking to tea estates, vineyards, whisky distilleries, and coffee plantations to sip and learn. Interactive pairings, zero-waste tasting menus, and fermented beverage festivals are adding a new dimension to liquid tourism.
Local Is Luxury
The trend of “hyperlocal” food travel is redefining luxury. Tourists are moving beyond Michelin stars to discover grandmothers' kitchens, hidden seafood shacks, and indigenous ingredients. Authenticity is now prized more than opulence, and stories behind a dish matter just as much as the flavor.
In places like Mexico, Vietnam, and Morocco, local guides are helping visitors trace food from farm to fork, offering insights into culinary heritage and sustainable practices.
Health-Conscious Culinary Travel
As wellness continues to shape global tourism, food tourism
