South Africa Positions Cuisine as a Major Tourism Draw at Gastronomy Africa Conference

The Gastronomy Africa Conference & Expo took place on 19–20 October 2026 in uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, bringing together chefs, restaurateurs, food producers, hospitality leaders and government tourism officials to develop South Africa's culinary tourism offer. Research presented at the event, drawn from more than 1.3 million international traveller reviews collected between September 2025 and September 2026, gave South Africa's food and beverage sector a satisfaction sentiment score of 90.7 out of 100, one of the highest in Africa. South African Tourism's chief marketing officer said that while food was already delivering as a meaningful part of the visitor experience, the opportunity now was to be 'much more deliberate about turning that strength into a tourism proposition.' The event showcased diverse culinary experiences available across the country, from township food tours to Cape wine routes and contemporary African fine dining. South Africa's Department of Tourism supports the initiative through its National Gastronomy Tourism Framework, which frames cuisine as a driver of destination diversification, community economic empowerment, and cultural identity for international visitors.