MILAN (AP) — Culinary tourists are pushing growth in foreign tourism to the United States, which is transforming its image as a fast-food mecca to a land of regional tastes and dishes, said officials visiting the Expo 2015 world’s fair focusing on food this week.
Foreign tourism to the United States in 2014 rose by 7 percent to over 75 million, contributing $221 million to the economy, according to Christopher L. Thompson, president and CEO of the Brand USA, a private marketing organization created five years ago to promote the United States as a destination.
That’s on the way to the Obama administration’s goal of attracting 100 million visitors by 2021, from 55 million in 2012.
The boost coincides with Brand USA’s culinary initiative to make food one of the country’s main selling points, including the creation of guides for top culinary destinations, videotaped chef vignettes for its Discover America web portal and sponsorship of the Food Truck Nation food concession at Milan’s Expo world fair, which is expected to attract at least 20 million visitors.
