The international travel industry is big business all over the western world, and is currently going through a period of diversification and expansion. Niche travel is one of the hot new trends affecting the industry, with a growing number of specialised niche tour and travel operators working in a number of diverse areas. One of the hottest new areas of the niche travel industry is known as food tourism or gourmet travel, where people go to particular international destinations especially to eat, drink, and learn about the local food. Some gourmet travel companies also run educational tours that are designed especially to teach people cooking and food culture, so that tourists can learn to cook and appreciate different foods in a natural, local setting.
The term gourmet is used to describe a cultural and aesthetic ideal that is associated with fine food and drink. While gourmet food culture has often been linked with ideas of cultural elitism in the past, new global attitudes mean that it is now just as likely to be linked to specific, exotic, and ethnic culinary experiences. The rise in globalisation, along with improved food transportation and education mean that people are more aware of food from other countries than they have ever been before. Gourmet travel opportunities provide food lovers everywhere with the chance to visit exotic destinations with the specific intent to enjoy the food and drink that is local to the area. Education is also important for some gourmet travellers, who may wish to learn the local cooking customs or the relationship that people have to specific foods and ingredients.
The gourmet food industry is also associated with the experience of refined beverages, such as quality coffee, international tea, or fine wine. Some of the popular international destinations for gourmet travellers include Italy, France, Spain, and South East Asia; each of which is able to offer a unique and quality gourmet experience. The travel industry is huge all over the developed world, and is only likely to grow even more in future years. Gourmet travel offers food and travel lovers with the chance to combine two of their greatest passions, by learning about the world through its culture and its food.