New research shows culinary tourism is expanding from restaurant reservations to supermarket safaris.
From Tokyo’s KitKats to Sydney’s Tim Tams, travellers are turning their holidays into global snack hunts.
According to Skyscanner's Travel Trends 2026 report, to “eat like a local” now means heading to the snack aisle for many travellers.
The global travel search engine reports views of grocery shopping conversations in travel subreddits are up 78 per cent year on year.
Travellers love exploring supermarkets on holiday because:
- It’s the best way to understand local culture
- It makes them feel like a local
- They enjoy the meals as much as restaurants.
Skyscanner's data shows almost half of UK travellers (47 per cent) say local food and snack options are a top priority when booking a trip.
Travellers visit local supermarkets to discover:
- New food and drinks (44 per cent)
- Local takes on familiar favourites (36 per cent)
- Global brands they can’t get at home (33 per cent)
When it comes to the generations, Millennials are most likely to plan their trips around trending snacks, as nearly six in 10 (59 per cent) of those who have been on holiday abroad choose their holiday destination based on finding certain cult foods, supermarket snacks or local delicacies and 70 per cent even allocate budget for buying unique international snacks while abroad.
Tim Tams are among the top 10 snacks that UK travellers seek out when on holidays, with Skyscanner also recommending they seek out Caramello Koala, Cheezels, Violet Crumble, Lifesavers Fruit Tingles when visiting Australia.
