Gastro tourism: a filling side dish for Spain’s economy

Spanish cuisine attracted 7.4 million tourists in 2013, according to research

For visitors to Britain it’s the history and tradition that draws in the tourists – the castles, the Royal Family, Stonehenge, the cobbled streets of York, the spires of Oxford, the charm of Edinburgh; for France it’s the romantic landscape – the rolling hills of Provence, the dazzling sea of the Cote d’Azure, the skyline of Paris; and for Italy it’s the lifestyle – cafes on the piazza, ice cream on the beach, gallery-hopping in Florence, people-watching in Rome.

As for Spain? Well, it’s long been a case of ‘take your pick’…

Spain’s wealth of attractions appeal to a diverse range of people. Some come for the sunshine, sand and sangria in cheap and cheerful resorts; others for the idyllic peace and quiet of the Balearic backwaters. There are those drawn by the chance to dance until dawn in some of the world’s most glamorous nightclubs, or simply those that fancy exploring the mountains on foot, mountain bike or horseback.

But now it appears that there is a new tourist trend in town – one centred on Spain’s growing reputation as a gastronomic heavyweight. According to Spanish tourism experts Turespana, Spain attracted an estimated 7.4 million international gastro tourists in 2013, spending on average €1,170 per head, which is way more than traditional tourists.

What, you may ask, makes a tourist a gastro tourist? Well, a recent survey by Habitur and the Institute of Touristic Studies (IET) asked thousands of tourists to Spain last year for the reasons behind their visit. Of those polled, a fair percentage cited Spain’s cuisine as a reason for visiting – findings that have prompted the head of Spain’s Federation of Hospitality (FEHR) to urge the country to place even greater emphasis on promoting its cuisine to foreign nationals.

“Gastronomy in Spain is far different to anything else in Europe,” said FEHR’s General Secretary, Emilio Gallego. “It is authentic, varied, delicious and sets us apart completely and competitively from other destinations.”

It is also popular too, if recent findings from TripAdvisor are anything to go by. According to the travel website, Spanish food is now the second-most preferred type of cuisine of Europeans, second only to Italian dishes.

A spokesperson from the Hotel Management School of Madrid is not surprised by the results of the TripAdvisor survey. “Spanish cooking is synonymous with the Mediterranean diet, with local, quality products, a special understanding of food, a unique relationship with socializing and, of course, it goes great with fine wine,” said the spokesperson.

As an insurance for Spain’s continuous dominance of the tourism sector, cuisine is hard to beat. Add it to the already world-leading resorts, sublime beaches, wonderful property opportunities and that brilliant climate and you have a recipe for success that is as moreish and healthy as it is delicious.