Food turns out to be a long time motivator for traveling. From sipping espresso on an Italian terrace to savoring street tacos in Mexico City, the flavors of a place often tell stories that no guidebook ever could. As global travel revs up once again, a trendy new option appears for culinary curiosity leading the way. let’s dive into what’s cooking in the latest food & beverage news and how it’s transforming destinations globally.

Europe: A Culinary Revival

Europe has always been a dream land for food lovers, but 2025 is bringing something different to the plate. Portugal and Slovenia are entering the culinary stages. Lisbon’s Time Out Market is about to expand to Porto, where Michelin-star chefs set their tapas next to local bakeries at a food hall concept. As for Slovenia, known for its clean forests and lakes, it has launched “The Green Gourmet Trail,” adding features of ecotourism to learning farm-to-table eating.

Tourists aren’t just lining up for the Eiffel Tower anymore; they’re heading to the lesser-known arrondissements for these quirky food tours that include underground wine tastings and croissant-making lessons from award-winning bakers.

Asia: The Transformation of Street Food

Street food: it has always been synonymous with Asian cities, but now it is getting a fantastic makeover in places such as Bangkok, Hanoi, and Mumbai. Bangkok has introduced “Gourmet Streets,” meeting hygiene and quality standards where street-side dining is kept in line with the authenticity of being on the street.

Meanwhile, there’s no stopping Japan. Tokyo now has sushi train tours—where travelers hop between stations sampling different kinds of sushi crafted by local chefs, each stop offering a signature style—from buttery Hokkaido scallops to Osaka’s pressed sushi.

USA: Feast at Festivals 

In fact, food tourism is meshing together with more festivals and cultural celebrations in the United States. “Flavor Fest” series, which popped up in New Orleans, rich in gumbo and jazz, is one of the examples.

Reimagined wine tours in Napa Valley, California, are taking on forms with a sip and stroll through the vineyard—a small dish by celebrity chefs at every stop. The aim? To tell the tale through taste-with local produce, herbs, and even wine-infused desserts.

Africa: Emergence of Native Flavors 

Africa’s cuisine map also keeps changing swiftly. In South Africa, the Karoo awaits travelers seeking “open fire feasts”—multi-course meals cooked in fire and hosted under the stars by community members. Not just meals, rather, storytelling experiences where guests learn about local herbs, ancient recipes, and the rhythm of rural life.

Meanwhile, Morocco is seating itself into the whole designation of slow food. Now riads in Marrakech offer intense cookery tuition using clay tagines and fresh souk ingredients. Not only do travelers eat the meal; they prepare it, spice it as they like it, and eat with local families.

Boom in Beverage Tourism

Talking about all the tasty travels, we cannot forget the beverages. Tea tourism is growing strong in India and Sri Lanka. Imagine sipping sunrise on a plantation with a view of Darjeeling tea. Learning how to pluck it from locals and finishing it with a thali meal.

Craft beer destinations, such as Belgium, Portland (USA), and Melbourne (Australia), all have breweries that boast “flavor flight trails,” which include tours where every beer tasting has local cheeses, chocolates, or seafood paired with it.

And coffee? Ethiopia’s the new darling of the caffeine map. Travel planners are now designing coffee farm stays for tourists so that they roast their beans and join “coffee ceremonies” that narrate the story, culture, and tradition of coffee. 

Destinations that Cater for Foodies

An increasing number of destinations are positioning their brands as foodie paradises. Georgia attracted an additional 40% of tourists with its increase in wine and khachapuri trails. In South Korea, cities such as Jeonju invite travelers to explore bibimbap museums and enroll in kimchi-making classes.

Even airlines and airports are catching up. Changi Airport in Singapore has set up hawker-style food courts and rotating chef pop-ups. Making stopovers deliciously unforgettable. 

The Journey Ahead 

Once again, the world seems to open up; at this point, travelers are hungrier than ever for adventure, but this time, flavor, too. Food and beverage experiences are no longer just add-ons; they are the principal course. Whether it’s sipping wine in a vineyard in South Africa or kneading dough in a Tuscan kitchen, the journey of taste is transforming the way we explore the world. 

Planning your next trip? Stay tuned to the latest travel & tourism news to find out where your taste buds will lead you. For when travel comes calling, it is usually the delicious memories that last.