Food pics spur trips

Before unfriending someone for filling your social media thread with pictures of what they had for lunch on vacation, consider that those pictures may have a positive impact on the economy. So says a study on food tourism conducted by Chico State professor Matthew Stone of the school’s Department of Recreation, Hospitality and Parks Management. The study polled more than 2,500 travelers from 10 countries. It found that more than 75 percent of leisure travelers have chosen a destination based on its food or beverages, while 80 percent said culinary adventures help them connect with the culture in the places they visit. For more results, see the full report at the World Food Travel Association website (worldfoodtravel.org).