Tourists look for different things and someone in the mood for adventure will seek out very different places from those who want to explore areas with the best food.
Known by names varying from the more old-fashioned "culinary tourism" to the more modern "foodie travel," the latter is a market that is projected to increase from $1.1 trillion in 2023 to $6.2 trillion in 2033.
In its annual 2024 Summer Travel trends report, social media platform Pinterest (PINS) identified that many travelers are specifically typing in a given destination followed by "food" when deciding where to travel (searches for "South African food" rose by 320% in the last year.)
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While it's best known for its Colonial-era architecture, cobblestone streets and historic monuments, Charleston has increasingly been emerging as a foodie destination. Food-minded tourists come there to sample both classic Southern dishes such as cornbread or shrimp and grits and the unique Lowcountry cuisine that originated there — some of the most representative dishes include She Crab Soup and Frogmore Stew.
A number of new food festivals are coming to Charleston this year
Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Travel + Leisure magazines are coming together Sept. 27-29 to hold their annual Food & Wine Classic festival in Charleston. It was last held in Aspen in 2023 and is coming to South Carolina for the first time ever.
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"We are excited to showcase the best of the Holy City and create a dynamic experience that tells meaningful stories about the area’s delicious food scene and brings together wine and food lovers from all over for a weekend of celebration, enrichment, and fun," Food & Wine's Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the city held its annual Wine + Food and Lowcountry Oyster festivals while the Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival is being held in July. Other annual festivals coming later in the year include the Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival and Charleston Restaurant Week.
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Charleston identified as 'fewer than 1%' of places to reach this food milestone
At the start of 2024, Charleston came behind only New Orleans in TripAdvisor (TRIP) 's annual ranking of the best cities for eating in the U.S.
"The Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best title celebrates the highest level of excellence in travel," the travel booking platform writes. "It's awarded to those who receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the TripAdvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of our eight million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone."
Stats also show that, along with growing numbers of visitors, tourists to Charleston are also spending more money on food and restaurant dining in particular.
A study from the College of Charleston shows that the average visitor to the city spent $537 on accommodations, $224 on food and $99 on tours and attractions throughout the length of the trip. The total $1,026 each adult spends in Charleston is a sharp increase from the $878 average seen before the pandemic. In 2023, the hospitality trade contributed $12.8 billion to the local economy.
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