Beekeeping trend is steadily on the rise

Last year, we zeroed in on an interesting new travel niche: on an offshoot of eco-tourism called beekeeping tourism. This travel trend was essentially launched in Slovenia, which has a rich ancestry in beekeeping and uses the sweet sticky stuff in much of its cuisine.

Since then, beekeeping has proven to be a robust micro niche for food and travel. Months later we noted the Fairmont Royal York’s urban beekeeping initiative in Toronto not only began supplying honey to its restaurants, but also nurtures the local, endangered bee population. Even famous London retailer, Fortnum and Mason, has recently begun to produce its own honey from its rooftop beehives, collecting pollen from chestnut, lime trees, and flowering plants from the best addresses in London.

And just last week, the New York Times reported on a Beekeepers Ball – In attendance were New York City beekeepers, aspiring New York City beekeepers, beekeepers not from New York City, friends of beekeepers, friends of bees, people who like to dress as bees, people who like to dress their children as bees, bee-dressed children, one cross-dressing beekeeper, a couple of guys who spend much of their time dressed in armor, and fans of honey, etc.

Seems that honeybees are this year’s must have accessory.