Gastronomy is a fashionable trend, a hobby for thousands, and according to a recent U.N. World Tourism Organization report, is now one of the main motivations for many to travel.

The report ranks gastronomy as the third reason tourists decide to visit a destination, following culture and nature. Right behind this trio are health and shopping.

Linking gastronomy and tourism also provides a platform for the promotion of cultures through a region's cuisine, which assists in destination branding — and helps to promote sustainable tourism by preserving valuable cultural heritage, nurturing pride among communities, and enhancing intercultural understanding. Through a visit to a food festival, cooking class or farm-to-table dining experience, tourists garner a better sense of local values and traditions.

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