CIS - Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas

• Those surveyed prefer sun and beach tourism, followed by cultural tourism and nature tourism, according to the latest 'Tourism and Gastronomy' study conducted by the CIS.
• Regarding what Spaniards value most about gastronomy, 86.9% highlight "the health it provides."
• 30.5% of Spaniards say they usually go to restaurants "two or three times a month."
• 79.9% consider the gastronomic culture they identify with to be “very or quite important”

This summer, the CIS conducted a survey on tourism and gastronomy, asking Spaniards about their vacation habits and their preferences regarding the wide variety and richness of Spanish cuisine.
The majority usually go on summer vacations for between one and two weeks (32.2%), followed by those who go for only one week (28.1%), and 19.3% who go for more than two weeks. Another 17.6% say they go for less than a week.

Regarding the type of accommodation, 43.8% choose hotels or aparthotels during their vacations, 14.4% say they choose homes owned by family and friends, and in third place are rental homes or tourist apartments (13.1%).
As for the destination, 37.5% of vacationers prefer a coastal town or one near the coast, 24.8% prefer a coastal city or one near the coast, and 22.5% prefer a rural or mountain town.

Sun and beach holidays

More than half prefer sun and beach tourism (51.3%), followed by cultural tourism (39.2%) and nature tourism (34.9%). And 30% prefer rural tourism.
30.5% say they usually go to restaurants "two or three times a month," followed by 29.1% who say they go "more than three times a month," and 20.5% who say they go at least "once a month."
Regarding the amount of money Spaniards typically spend when going to restaurants, 55.7% say it's between 15 and 30 euros, and 28.6% say it's between 31 and 50 euros.

Considerations on gastronomy

86.9% consider the health it provides very or quite important. 85.6% consider the social relationships that accompany it important, while 85.8% consider the pleasure of eating. 79.9% consider the food culture they identify with important.

Diversity and gastronomic richness

For those surveyed, Spanish cuisine is seen as a living heritage, with each autonomous community contributing its own identity to a highly diverse mix. Paella is considered the "most typical and representative" dish of Spanish cuisine (63.4%), followed by potato omelet (58.3%), with Iberian ham in third place (43.8%).

For 74.9% of respondents, potato omelet should be made with onion, compared to 18.9% who believe it should be made without onion. Regarding the debate over whether it should be "well-done or rare," the rare omelet option wins with 53.3%, compared to 28.9% who prefer it well-done.
Furthermore, within Spain's wide gastronomic variety, in each autonomous community, respondents highlight different dishes that reflect their traditions. Thus, fabada is the most representative dish from Asturias (88%), cocido montañés from Cantabria (85%), and cocido madrileño from the Community of Madrid (71.9%), among others.

Going out to lunch or dinner at restaurants on vacation

Twenty-seven percent of respondents usually eat lunch or dinner at a restaurant two to three times a week while on vacation, 25.3% do so more than three times a week. And 22% say they do so every day while on vacation.

Regarding what Spaniards value most about gastronomy, 86.9% highlight "the health it provides," 85.8% say they value the pleasure of tasting, and 85.6% say "the social interactions that accompany it."
These and other data are collected in the tourism and gastronomy survey conducted from July 28 to 31 with a sample of 2,896 interviews.

Press release