What is Grocery Store Tourism, and why are travellers picking this over traditional sightseeing?

Museums, souvenirs, and bustling tourist squares? Forget about all those. More and more tourists are becoming obsessed with something much more common. Introducing the phenomenon of “Grocery Store Tourism,” one of the least expected travel trends. Travellers are increasingly posting photos of their visits to grocery stores, convenience stores, wet markets, and other places that would have never been considered tourist sites before..And surprisingly, it makes perfect sense.For many contemporary travellers, strolling around at a local grocery store may become one of the quickest ways to learn about how the locals truly live. Whether it is about their snacks, shopping habits, fruit availability, instant noodles, breakfast habits, and many other things, all this will be revealed to travellers through supermarkets.Grocery stores have become something like the new museums of culture.The reason why traditional sightseeing fails to provide an authentic picture of a certain destination is that it is highly curated. Travellers are seeking new experiences that are more authentic and not as highly curated anymore.A simple stroll around a grocery store in Tokyo or Seoul can provide much more information than any typical guided tour. People want to travel in order to see different kinds of weird snacks, chips, and drinks, study various instant noodle cultures, try new types of fruits and vegetables, search for new desserts and drinks, etc. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have been responsible for popularizing grocery shopping as a form of travel.YouTube channels specializing in visiting Japanese convenience stores, Korean supermarkets, European cheese counters, and peculiar international items are common and garner millions of subscribers. The reason is also very straightforward: grocery shopping is something people relate to. Luxury resorts and pricey travel experiences do not cater to everyone, but supermarkets are something that any traveller can go to and immediately feel at home.Grocery store tourism is also one of the cheapest forms of travel.Since major tourist sights and attractions require an entrance fee, grocery store visits do not. Travellers can try local delicacies, pack a picnic lunch, taste regional snacks, purchase some food souvenirs, and save money by avoiding overpriced tourist restaurants.In expensive places such as Zurich or Reykjavík, supermarkets become necessities for thrifty tourists. On the other hand, grocery store tours are gaining popularity among rich travellers because they can help to learn about local cuisine.The major factor contributing to the rise of this trend is that supermarkets make cultural differences very conspicuous. Travellers find even the smallest elements fascinating such as milk containers, candy flavours, frozen food aisles, bakery design and vending machine culture.In some countries, convenience stores are attracting visitors on their own merit now. Stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart of Japan have earned a cult status among travellers for the unexpectedly high quality of their offerings. Likewise, the South Korean convenience stores are now preferred late night hangouts for visitors seeking a replica of Korean drama experience.In many instances, it is becoming routine for travelers to schedule their time at grocery and convenience stores.The rise of grocery store tourism speaks volumes about today’s travel culture. Rather than seek out famous landmarks, many travellers are seeking small but authentic experiences.Today’s tourists are becoming more and more interested in local customs, culinary culture, daily routines, human psychology and behavior, and neighborhood experiences. Moreover, the more common something is, the more exciting it can appear to be for tourists.Lonely travellers frequently choose to go to supermarkets since they are relaxing and absorbing activities. Experiencing shopping there, watching locals shopping, or just having meals in convenience stores can make one experience travel very intensely. This way travellers have an opportunity not to watch local customs from afar, but to become a part of it. In addition, such activities give people a chance to rest and recover from sightseeing fatigue.