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Canadian Travellers Are Trading Overcrowded Hotspots for Authentic Local Food Experiences
A new national survey from Intrepid Travel finds nearly all Canadians see local cuisine as the best window into a destination's culture, as concerns grow over AI-driven planning and overtourism
Published: July 19, 2026
A new national survey commissioned by adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel suggests Canadians are rethinking how they choose a vacation, with authenticity and local flavour outranking flashy, algorithm-driven recommendations.
According to the research, nearly all Canadians surveyed, 94 per cent, say sampling local food is one of the best ways to understand a destination's culture, well ahead of museums, guided tours or curated social media itineraries.
The findings also point to a growing unease about overtourism, with more than half of respondents saying they are concerned about the strain that crowds are placing on popular destinations, from clogged historic centres to fragile natural attractions. Many travellers say they would rather seek out lesser-known neighbourhoods or smaller communities than compete for space at the world's most Instagrammed landmarks.
The survey also touches on how Canadians are researching trips, with a growing number expressing skepticism toward AI-generated recommendations and preferring advice from locals, small tour operators or friends who have actually visited a place. That shift is feeding demand for food-focused travel, including cooking classes, market tours and meals in family-run restaurants rather than chain hotels and pre-packaged excursions.
Industry watchers say the trend reflects a broader desire for meaningful travel over checklist tourism, with Canadians increasingly willing to trade a famous skyline photo for a home-cooked meal or a conversation with a local vendor at a neighbourhood market.
