Strangely, tourists 'go crazy' over supermarkets

"Supermarket tourism ", where tourists go abroad to shop at grocery stores, is predicted to be the next trend in 2025, according to Mirror.

Many tourists choose supermarkets and grocery stores as places they cannot miss when traveling abroad. Photo: @hothienngaaa.

According to travel company Expedia Group's Unpack 25 report on travel trends in 2025, many travelers will prioritize visiting supermarkets when vacationing abroad.

Specifically, 39% of tourists visit supermarkets when traveling abroad and 44% look for unique local products that are not available at home.

"Going to the supermarket is also considered sightseeing. It's not only a cultural experience but also a great way to find things to bring back as souvenirs," said one tourist on TikTok.

This trend shows that today's travelers prefer to look for unique consumer goods and merchandise as gifts, instead of traditional items such as key chains, mugs or clothing, according to news.com.au .

Jessica Jayne, who pioneered this trend, said she loves going to the supermarket to shop and sharing that moment on TikTok. In the clip at the supermarket in Santorini (Greece), Jessica chooses local cakes to enjoy.

“I really feel like shopping in a supermarket in a foreign country is part of the experience. You have to try it,” she said.

"Supermarket tourism" is predicted to be the next trend in 2025. Photo: @hothienngaaa, @theresult.store.

TikToker Daniela Araujo (living in the US) explains why many international visitors to the US go straight to mini-marts like Walmart, Target or Trader Joes to shop instead of exploring famous places. "Supermarkets have things that are only available locally," he says.

Expedia Group believes TikTok is a big factor in this trend. "Platforms like TikTok are inspiring travelers, especially Gen Z. They go to TikTok to search for trending items, like Dubai chocolate bars or Korean skincare products, and then when they travel, they head to the supermarket to buy them. This is the new era of souvenirs, where travelers build trips around shopping," said Darren Karshagen, senior director of Expedia Group.

Additionally, by 2025, travelers will be more likely to choose lesser-known destinations over crowded ones. 63% of travelers said they would visit off-the-beaten-path destinations on their next trip.

Source