B M & T ••• September/October 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com
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T R AV E L DATA
RECORD MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
ARRIVALS FOR JANUARY- JULY 2016
During the months of January - July 2016, domestic passenger
arrivals into Miami International Airport (MIA) increased by 4.1
percent compared to 2015. International passenger arrivals
increased by 0.9 percent while total passenger arrivals increased
2.6 percent compared to the same time last year.
RECORD
MIA PASSENGER ARRIVALS
Domestic Arrivals
January - July 2016 January - July 2015 % Change vs. 2015
7,045,712 6,767,342 +4.1%
International Arrivals
January - July 2016 January - July 2015 % Change vs. 2015
6,438,136 6,337,739 +0.9%
Total Arrivals
January - July 2016 January - July 2015 % Change vs. 2015
13,483,848 13,145,081 -+2.6%
WORLD FOOD TRAVEL ASSOCIATION
BREAKS GROUND WITH LARGEST FOOD
TOURISM STUDY EVER CONDUCTED
The First Publicly Available Global Food and
Beverage Tourism ResearchIncludes Current Industry
Trends, Global Data, and Psychoculinary Profiling
Recently, the World Food Travel Association (WFTA)
announced the release of the 2016 Food Travel Monitor.
Following on its past research, this groundbreaking report is the
first publicly available, as well as largest, food and beverage
tourism study ever conducted. While some of the report's major
highlights are included below, you may access the executive
summary to use as you see fit at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9y1xcsgt2n0llyb/2016-06JUN-
10%20Food%20Travel%20Monitor%20CC-BY-ND-ES-
Media.pdf?dl=0
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
FOOD & BEVERAGE: NOW A CRITICAL
TRAVEL MOTIVATOR
Food and beverage are an increasingly significant motivator
for travel, as 75% of leisure travelers have been motivated to visit
a destination because of a culinary activity.
ESSENTIAL TO THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Food & beverage are essential to the visitor experience. As
many as 86% of respondents claimed having a positive food &
drink experience on a trip would make them more likely to
return to that destination.
NOT ALL FOODIES ARE THE SAME
Thirteen different PsychoCulinary profiles explain why pref-
erences and motivations differ among individual travelers. The
most common profile is the eclectic traveler, who seeks a variety
of experiences. And you might not expect it, but he "gourmet"
profile is in the minority!
WE ALL EAT, BUT WOMEN TEND TO INFLUENCE
Women are also more likely to choose locally-owned and
operated restaurants and bars, as 61% of women identify as
localist travelers.
IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL DO
For the first time ever, the overwhelming majority of
American travelers (93%) engage in a food or beverage experi-
ence other than dining. In other words, almost all American trav-
elers have an interest in unique food and beverage experiences.
WE SPEND BASED ON PASSION, NOT OUR INCOME
Regardless of income, culinary travelers prioritize spending on
food and beverage, directing about 50% more of their budget
towards food and beverage related activities than non-culinary
travelers.
YOUNGER PEOPLE DRIVE SPENDING
How does age relate to food and beverage tourism?
Generation Xers and Millennials are much more concerned with
food when they travel than those from older generations. The
increasing importance of food and beverage to younger travelers
indicates a positive future for the food and beverage tourism
industry.
PRINT ISN'T DEAD AT ALL
Despite the decline in traditional print media, 92% of respon-
dents claimed they were motivated to travel to a destination or
culinary attraction as a result of print media (magazines and trav-
el sections of newspapers).
SOCIAL MEDIA HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE
Culinary Travelers (34%) are more motivated to visit a desti-
nation because of a posting about food or drink on social media
than non-culinary Travelers (23%). And on at least half of their
trips, 64% of leisure travelers chose to share their food and bev-
erage experiences on social media.
FOODIES ARE MORE ENGAGED TRAVELERS
Culinary Travelers are more engaged than non-Culinary
Travelers, meaning that they are more likely to participate in
other non-food related activities when they travel. Culinary
Travelers are more likely to be found sightseeing (91%), shop-
ping (87%), and visiting a historical or cultural attraction (85%)
while traveling.