Japanese cuisine, which typically includes a large amount of seafood, is growing in popularity among international travelers, according to a new survey. The focus on Japanese cuisine demonstrates travelers’ growing appetite for fresh seafood and healthy fare.
In Hotel.com’s survey of more than 27,000 international travelers, 18 percent of respondents favor Japanese cuisine to all types of food. At the same time, global travelers favor Italian food the most (32 percent of those surveyed), followed by French food (24 percent). Another 13 percent of international travelers prefer Chinese food, 11 percent prefer Spanish cuisine and 10 percent prefer American food.
The growing popularity of Japanese cuisine can be attributed to the fact that many travelers view it as a healthier cuisine.
“Japanese food is seen as a great example of healthy eating, and there are a variety of Japanese restaurants in every multicultural capital,” said Alison Couper, senior director of global communication for Hotels.com.
Those surveyed said they favored eating sushi, tempura, ramen and Japanese soba, particularly when eating at fine-dining restaurants.
“The fact that [Japanese cuisine] beat more traditional holiday dishes such as tapas and burritos, is testament to the world-class reputation of Japanese chefs,” Couper said.
A majority of the Japanese travelers interviewed recommended that travelers to their country eat sushi. However, they also highly recommended tempura, ramen, Japanese soba (a savory pancake that can contain pork, shrimp or seafood, and Okonomiyaki, a hot pot with thinly sliced meats and vegetables.
