Article
Barcelona at the Heart of Food Tourism Boom
Published: Tue 23 Apr 2013 at 16:36
Updated: Wed 24 Apr 2013 at 16:38
Food lovers are seeking cheap flights to Barcelona in their droves as the gastronomic offering of the city helps to cement its position as one of the culinary capitals of Europe.
Barcelona has always been famed for its fruit and meat markets that are located on Las Ramblas, the city's iconic thoroughfare that attracts millions of tourists each year. As well as the markets, Barcelona's restaurants and tapas bars continue to rise in popularity with menus that are rich in local produce. From traditional dishes like patatas bravas to new, fresh twists on chorizo and squid dishes, Barcelona's chefs are igniting the imagination of tourists across the world with their flavourful dishes.
A Big Part Of Tourism
Food tourism across the world is estimated to be worth $150m (almost £100m) each year as an industry, according to the World Food Travel Association based in the USA. The number of people taking holidays specifically to sample local produce and traditional recipes looks set to grow and grow, particularly in places like Barcelona that already have such a good reputation with foodie travellers.
Erik Wolf, the founder of the World Food Travel Association, commented on the growth in food tourism, saying:
"You had a situation where food tourism wasn’t really [on the map], it’s something where journalists around the world are writing about it. It’s really gotten quite big."
Food lovers can look to Jet2.com for cheap flights to Barcelona, leaving them with more to spend on those culinary delights that the city, and Spain in general, has to offer.
