Food tourism

Food tourism is one of the key sectors of tourism that can significantly attract the attention of tourists. This type of tourism is associated with the customs, traditions, and culture of each country and is attractive to visitors from different countries with diverse cultures who are ready to experience their local customs, traditions, and cuisines. Nowadays, food tourism generates $200 billion in revenue worldwide. In Iran, food tourism is one of the most popular forms of tourism. The geographical, climatic, and cultural diversity of Iran can provide a suitable platform for the growth of various types of tourism, especially rural and culinary tourism. According to conducted surveys, there are approximately 2,500 types of local foods and beverages in Iran, some of which are national dishes and others are local specialties. However, despite the considerable food diversity in Iran, the income potential of this sector of tourism in our country has been overlooked. In general, travelers who visit different countries enjoy experiencing traditional and local foods alongside visiting natural and historical attractions. Iran, with its diverse food and various ethnic cultures, can make desirable and worthy use of this opportunity through proper planning in this area. According to the surveys, 50% of travelers have expressed that they enjoy combining food experiences with serious physical activities outside their usual and ordinary routines. Additionally, 51% have stated that they prefer implementing a travel program that combines adventure, physical activity, and experiencing different cuisines over a travel program without food experiences. Considering that from north to south and from east to west, every point of Iran has its own diverse and unique foods, many cities in Iran alone are food tourism destinations. Some cities in Iran are recognized as creative food cities, while others are introduced as popular food tourism destinations in Iran.