Meghan Markle's show boosts Montecito tourism significantly

Meghan Markle's new cooking show on Netflix has surprisingly boosted tourism in Montecito, California. Despite receiving mixed reviews, research shows that the series has sparked increased interest in the area. The show was filmed in a home near where Meghan and Prince Harry live. Since its release, there have been 424,000 online searches for Montecito. Searches for “Montecito hotels” have surged by 354% in the last month. Other related searches, like “wellness retreat California,” have also grown by 29%. Samuel Jefferies, a marketing expert, noted that interest in cooking has increased as well. Searches for “family cooking classes” rose by 31%, and “beginners cooking classes” increased by 25%. This suggests that the show is influencing tourism with a focus on culinary experiences. In the first episode, Meghan learns about beekeeping, prompting 198,000 people to search for “beekeeping,” an increase of 22%. The show highlights the importance of using simple, local ingredients in meals. Following the success of season one, Netflix has confirmed a second season is coming, although no release date has been announced yet.