The World Food Travel Association has released the inaugural Gastronomy Tourism Maturity Index (GTMI), the first global assessment designed to evaluate the long-term maturity of gastronomy tourism across 84 countries. Not surprising, Italy and France ranked one-two in the index.
The findings reveal that international culinary fame and tourism popularity do not always correspond with long-term gastronomy tourism maturity. Several countries with lower international profiles outperformed more widely recognized food destinations when measured against the foundations that support sustainable tourism development.
Top 10 Countries in the 2026 Gastronomy Tourism Maturity Index
- Italy
- France
- Portugal
- Turkey
- Denmark
- Germany
- Japan
- Austria
- United States
- Spain
Unlike rankings based on restaurant awards, social media visibility, visitor numbers, or media attention, the GTMI evaluates the underlying conditions that enable destinations to develop, sustain, and grow gastronomy tourism over the long term.
The Index measures six dimensions:
- Heritage
- Land
- Experience
- Leadership
- Stewardship
- Access
Together, these dimensions provide an independent assessment of a country’s readiness to support sustainable gastronomy tourism development.
As destinations increasingly compete for higher-spending visitors and seek new drivers of economic development, gastronomy tourism has become an important tool for supporting local businesses, preserving cultural heritage, strengthening regional economies, and creating more meaningful visitor experiences.
“After all, every visitor eats and drinks,” says the WFTA. “The question is whether they return home with memories of generic chain restaurants that could be found almost anywhere in the world, or with memorable experiences rooted in local food culture, independent businesses, and distinctive culinary traditions that can only be found in a specific destination.”
The findings also underscore the distinction between popularity and maturity. High visitor volumes can create significant economic benefits, but they may also place strain on infrastructure, authenticity, sustainability, and visitor experience if growth is not carefully managed.
“We have spent nearly three decades watching destinations chase visibility as a measure of success,” said Erik Wolf, Founder and Executive Director of the World Food Travel Association.
“Popularity can attract visitors, but maturity determines whether a destination can sustain quality, protect its food culture, and remain competitive over time.”
The world’s leading authority on gastronomy tourism, the World Food Travel Association has conducted research, developed industry standards, and worked with destinations, governments, and tourism stakeholders in more than 100 countries for more than 30 years to advance gastronomy tourism as a driver of sustainable economic development.
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.