About 71% APAC travellers keen to try local cuisines: survey

Travellers are getting more adventurous with 71 per cent of people surveyed in Asia Pacific emphasising on the importance of trying local cuisines while on vacation, a recent survey has revealed.
"Six 6 out of 10 travellers were keen to try new experiences or activities and local cuisines," according to Airbnb's Asia Pacific (APAC) Travel survey.
"Our survey has shown that people across the region, irrespective of age or gender, have a desire to really experience the places that they travel to, not just visit. Food is such an influence on destination decision-making, and is also one of the easiest ways that you can immerse yourself into a local culture or community whether travelling with your family and friends, or alone," Airbnb Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Siew Kum-Hong said.

The Airbnb APAC Travel survey was conducted among 6,979 travellers across seven countries in APAC, including in Australia, China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
It found that Indian women travellers are more adventurous when it comes to trying new cuisines.
About 71 per cent Indians are most likely to want to try local food, in comparison to 58 per cent of travellers from South Korea.

Indian women are more adventurous in trying local food and drink (74 per cent) compared to 68 per cent of men.
Women in China (73 per cent), Japan (80 per cent), Singapore (84 per cent), South Korea (59 per cent) and Thailand (69 per cent), are more inclined to sample local cuisine than their male counterparts, it said.

The only exception is Australia where 76 per cent of men are more keen to try local dishes against to 71 per cent of women.
Millennials are more open to trying new cuisines compared to their aged counterparts, the survey said.
In Australia (77 per cent respondents), China (65 per cent), India (72 per cent), Japan (83 per cent), Singapore (79 per cent) and South Korea (59 per cent) are more open to new ideas and the importance of trying local foods.
Women in 18-24 years old age group in APAC are more likely to try local food (77 per cent) than 35-44 year olds (69 per cent).

However, their male counterparts become more experimental with food in 35-44 age group, with 73 per cent, compared to only 64 per cent of males aged 25-34, it added.
Further, the survey, said one fifth of solo tourists cook on vacation, from 46 per cent of family travellers.
When vacationing with families, travellers do not always have the opportunity to explore the local food scene, it added.
In fact, the survey said, 46 per cent of family travellers across APAC are likely to cook, compared to one-fifth (21 per cent) of solo travellers.
There are regional variations as family groups travelling from Japan (23 per cent) are least likely to cook.

On the other hand, 46 per cent, 47 per cent, 64 per cent and 66 per cent of Indian, Chinese, Thai and South Korean travellers would be more likely to cook in their accommodation when they are travelling with their families.
Meanwhile, the survey also found that 59 per cent of all APAC travellers interviewed want to try new activities or experiences on holiday.
This rises to 70 per cent for Singaporeans, 68 per cent for Indians and 65 per cent for Australian travellers who are keen to try something different and new while on holiday.
Japanese travellers are the least likely to embrace new activities and adventures at 31 per cent, it added.