Have you realized that nowadays people usually decide their travel destination by the food? Moreover, if the food has been viral and become the tourist destination itself.

It is called food tourism. Food tourism is a concept that many people prioritize food and drink as a central part of their holiday plans. Previously, food is only supplement part to any trip. however, it now often plays a central role in tourists’ decision-making about destinations and experiences.

As a traveler, I often do that. Sometimes I choose a destination based on food or drink that I want to try. Psychologists see this trend and they want to know what makes people choose some food and have started to identify different types of food tourist. Food tourism is not just about eating and drinking. We get so much more from these experiences, from learning about new cuisines and cultures, to making new friendships, or getting to know a community.

How much food influence your travel destination? Why you choose to eat certain food while traveling? Psychologists suggest that there are a number of different ways people enjoy food when travelling. It might resonate to you.

• Gastronaut

Gastronaut is a typical foodie who devoted time and energy to learning about and experiencing a fine dining and local food. For gastronaut, food experiences can be part of a lifestyle, where food choices are not just pleasurable experiences, but can also come with a degree of social status. You might not find gastronout at local chain restaurants or sipping instant coffee. They are likely to get the most pleasure from well curated and thoughtfully dining experiences. However, it is not always fine dining experience. You might find them in a street food that really genuine and only there.  

• The novelty seeker

For novelty seeker, newness is everything. No familiar food at all. You will look at something new in the menu. Food or drink that you never try. Psychologists have found that for these tourists, the novelty aspect can significantly impact feelings of satisfaction, so that a delicious but familiar dish might be less satisfying than less tasty but unfamiliar dish. You will happy if you find new food and you like it. I think this mentality is what every traveler should have. Therefore, you can enjoy and fulfill while traveling. I ever tried snail, rabbit, many strange vegetables during my trip. Although I do not end up like all what I eat, at least I know the taste. In addition, it enriches my life experience.

• The familiarity foodie

In contrary with novelty seeker, familiarity foodie always looks for familiar food. By choosing familiar food, you feel like to have a satisfaction guarantee and comfort to have something you love. Psychological research suggests that if these are your preferences, you’re more likely to rate familiar dishes as tasting better than unfamiliar dishes, and are more likely to have favorite destinations and restaurants that you return to. Much of the enjoyment of these food experiences comes from the sense of comfort that familiarity brings. Sometimes, I do so. I have favorite restaurant at my trip and someday if I come back to the area, I will visit the restaurant again.

• The Culture Vulture

For these tourists, it is all about how food experience can connect them into the culture of the destination. They can have it by shopping at local market, local food festival, cooking local food class, or just wine tasting. Therefore, nowadays those food culture experience became tourist destination. Some psychologists have identified ‘cultural distance’ (how different a culture is from our own) as a factor influencing how much the culture seeking tourist enjoys a destination. They find satisfaction by experiencing a new culture through the food. It makes the trip more memorable.

Despite all the type, you might not consider yourself as one type. You might feel mix of some types. One time you want to become novelty seeker. Another time, you might want familiar food. And, it is okay. Try to dig in to yourself and you can try on your next trip. It might make your trip more enjoyable.

source:

https://thetravelpsychologist.co.uk/f/what-is-food-tourism-and-why-is-it-growing-in-popularity/