18 October 2016

Australia will once again be the focus of attention for international foodies next April when the 2017 list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is revealed in Melbourne’s historic Royal Exhibition Building.

The Awards ceremony is part of an overall event program from 1-7 April, which will give Australia an opportunity to showcase its outstanding food and wine culture to an international audience of industry professionals, media and food lovers.

“Great culinary experiences are about people, produce and place so Australia is perfect to host The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards,” said Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP.

Tourism Australia has been focusing its international marketing efforts in recent years on highlighting Australia’s exceptional food and wine in response to the growing demand globally for gourmet travel experiences.

Since the start of the Restaurant Australia campaign in December 2013, international incremental spending on food and wine has increased by more than $1 billion or 25 per cent with one in five dollars spent by international visitors in Australia now going towards food and wine experiences.

Restaurant Australia is part of Tourism Australia’s There’s Nothing Like Australia global consumer marketing campaign, highlighting some of the very best attractions and experiences Australian tourism has to offer.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants celebrations are also being supported by Visit Victoria, Etihad Airways, QT Melbourne along with Wine Australia, who will provide wines of the highest calibre throughout the program.

The list of top restaurants is compiled from the votes of more than 1,000 international food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded ‘gastronomes’.