Some of the world’s top wine-growing regions are known for their scenery. One example is Tuscany in Italy, with its rolling hills topped with centuries-old villages from which Florence, Pisa and Siena are a drive away.
Then there is France’s Languedoc-Roussillon, which has similar terrain but with views of the Mediterranean Sea beyond the verdant slopes.
Or there is the Margaret River in Australia, where vineyards are followed by beaches and the chance to hop on a surfboard.
No wonder, then, that wine tourism is set to grow over the coming years. According to a recently published forecast by Future Market Insights (FMI), the sector could see 13 per cent compound annual growth over the next 10 years – expansion that would see it go from being worth almost US$100 million in 2024 to over US$300 million by 2034.
And it is not just already popular hubs that are set to benefit, according to FMI, with wine-growing regions in Bulgaria, Croatia, Ethiopia and Moldova set to thrive. Much of the demand looks set to come from Indian and Chinese travellers, as well as those from elsewhere in Asia.
