Russia tour demand skyrockets sevenfold versus pre-pandemic levels
Gastronomy Tourism Taking Off Across Russia
The world of travel is evolving, and a new trend is emerging—gastronomy tourism. According to tour operators, gastronomic tours have seen a significant surge in demand, taking up 14% of all excursions sold on the "Big Country" platform, a third more than the previous season [Shopper’s]. Compared to the pre-pandemic years, the demand for gastronomic tours has skyrocketed sevenfold.
Popular destinations for culinary enthusiasts include Lake Baikal, Karelia, Dagestan, and Tatarstan, offering a taste of regional delights. One location, Abrau-Dyurso, is renowned for its meticulously crafted wines and a variety of cheeses that make a visit truly worthwhile.
Food enthusiasts or "foodies" are driving this boom in gastronomy tourism. Tours featuring gastronomic festivals, such as cheese, wine, fish, and berry festivals, are highly sought after. The misconception of gastronomy tours being elitist or expensive is fading, as tours are developed with affordable prices and collaboration with local establishments, chefs, gastrologers, and food culture researchers.
The tour programs encompass visits to rural estates and farms, wineries, breweries, oil mills, cheese factories, apiaries, and cognac houses. Each region in Russia offers unique dishes that can only be sampled locally. Igor Blinov, director of development for the OnlineTur.ru tourism platform, notes the potential of the Far East, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Primorye, the Arctic, and regional cuisine in Murmansk, the Baltic, and Kaliningrad [DK.RU].
Market experts believe that gastronomy tourism fosters a lasting interest in trying local specialties, from sea urchins to smelt, cloudberries to cedar sweets [DK.RU]. Consequently, new catering establishments are opening, and there's an increase in demand for regional products, leading to the creation of new craft brands producing local goods like tea, jams, and pastilles.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade sees great potential in developing Russian national cuisine, planning to create a standard for Russian cuisine in the future. Currently, there is no such term or detailed description at the state level in Russia, yet national dishes are an essential part of the country's cultural heritage [DK.RU]. Additionally, a standard in the tourism and accommodation services sector will be developed by the end of 2025 to meet halal requirements, aiming to attract international guests from the Islamic world.
Also, Yekaterinburg is working to recreate "Ural cuisine" and expand culinary horizons by acquainting itself with the Asian region [DK.RU]. As the gastronomy tourism industry grows, we can expect the emergence of more unique dining experiences, food festivals, and efforts to promote sustainability and transparency in Russia's food system.
Travelers seeking unique experiences can immerse themselves in the diverse food-and-drink culture of Russia through gastronomy tourism. Popular lifestyle destinations for culinary exploration include Lake Baikal, Karelia, Dagestan, Tatarstan, Abrau-Dyurso, the Far East, Sakhalin, Kamchatka, Primorye, the Arctic, and regional cuisine in Murmansk, the Baltic, and Kaliningburg. These locations offer tastings of local delicacies, such as sea urchins, smelt, cloudberries, and cedar sweets, enhancing travelers' understanding and appreciation of Russia's rich food-and-drink traditions.
