L3: Gastronomic Tourism
and tourism for visitors to learn about new
The Meaning and Importance of Gastronomic
Tourism
 Gastronomic tourism encourages mutual
understanding among people of many cultures,
in addition to its economic value.
 Today, gastronomy tourism encompasses a
wide range of tourism services.
 It has increased the enjoyment and knowledge
opportunities provided by high-quality local
culinary products in various areas, as well the
activities available in their productive and
processing environment.
 Gastronomy tourism is thus built on the concept
of understanding and learning about a territory’s
gastronomic culture, as well as eating, tasting
and enjoying it.
 The World Tourism Organization (WTO) defines
gastronomy tourism as “ a type of tourism
activity which is characterized by the visitor’s
experience linked with food and related products
and activities while travelling.
 Along with authentic, traditional and/or
innovative culinary experiences, it may also
involve other related activities such as visiting
the local producers, participating in food festivals
and attending cooking classes.
 The word GASTRO is derived from the words
‘’GASTROS’’ which means stomach and
‘’GNOMOS’’ which means knowledge or law in
Greek.
 As part from gastronomy, the word culinary is a
word used as a country or a places, dishes,
food, food preparation techniques and mostly
used under the gastronomy literature.
The Meaning of Gastronomic Tourism
 According to Gillespie “Gastronomy is about the
recognition of a variety of factors relevant to the
foods and beverages ate and consumed by a
group, in a locality, region or even a nation’’.
However, there is a difference between the
practice and the study of gastronomy. When
gastronomy is considered as a practice, it
means the advice and guidance and the
exercise of the living skills with knowledge.
 Gastronomy is a scientific study of what we eat
and how we eat it.
 It is an area of interdisciplinary knowledge that
investigates and generates physiochemical,
cultural, and socio-economic processes in which
humans cultivate, prepare, distribute and
consume healthy foods and beverages, all of
which have an impact on their physical, mental,
and social well-being.
 Gastronomy is one of the most prevalent tourist
attractions. Everyone enjoys learning about the
local cuisine in a certain destination through
visiting its restaurants, having a taste of the
regional specialties, and participating in
unexpectedly memorable experiences.
The Importance of Gastronomic Tourism
As gastronomy has evolved into a deliberate
sector in many destinations, it contributed to the
creation of wealth and jobs by providing
additional value to the value chain as a whole.
 It has also evolved from the development of
high-quality food to its transformation to the hotel
or tourism industry as well as the promotion of
the country’s trademark.
 Gastronomy has become one of the main factors
outlining the effectiveness of local areas, and a
means of responding to a category of tourist who
is gradually identified with the quest for what is
indigenous and one of the cultural elements of
the geographical zone that this tourist visits.
 Furthermore, gastronomy has gained popularity
in recent years as a reflection of a geographical
zone’s cultural identity.
 There is a perfect synergy between gastronomy
places and buy unique goods, encouraging the
economic growth of specific areas based on
long-term sustainability.
 Five topics that limit the study of gastronomic
tourism are motivation, authenticity, history,
management, marketing and destination.
o The FIRST PRINCIPLE that limits
gastronomic tourism is MOTIVATION,
which takes into account factors such as
experience and health concerns.
o The SECOND is AUTHENTICITY, which
is important aspect of a place’s
gastronomy production and a driving
force for tourism promotion.
o Thirdly, there is an investigation in the
relationship between culinary processes
and culture, and gastronomy is
emphasized as a component of the local
community’s cultural heritage.
o In the fourth position, it is important to
consider how the location’s
management and promotions are
carried out, including basic aspects such
as customer behavior.
o In fifth place, the analysis of the
relationship between gastronomy and a
particular destination.
Gastronomy Identity Model
 The gastronomic identity is influenced by the
cultural and environmental factors. While
geographical conditions and climate affect the
food produced, they also limit the flavor.
 If the destination is an island, then the eating
habits will mostly depend on fishing. The food
quality is also related to geography, as a food is
grown in a place where it belongs, are
considered as a good quality.
 Also, region, history and traditions will demark
the eating habits. For example, the HALAL food
for Muslim is an important issue and defined as
the food which is allowed in Islamic terms or
conditions. Besides, the wealth and social status
of the society may influence the identity.
 The multiculturalism affects the gastronomic
identity. Innovations, the changes in producing
and processing food, new foods and products
also have significant effects on the identity.
 Those environmental and cultural factors do not
only influence the identity itself but also give a
symbolic meaning. Foods are also ‘’placed
cultural artifacts which symbolize the identity’’.
The Relationship of Food and Culinary Tourism
Gastronomy
 Gastronomic tourism is a relatively new type of
tourism. Culinary tourism, taste tourism,
gastronomy tourism, and food tourism are some
of the words used to describe food-based
tourism.
 Culinary is a Latin word “Culina’’ that means
kitchen or cooking and used also for meal, food
and dish and it refers to ingredients, foods that
are prepared, beverages, production process
and activities.
 Culinary tourism is described as “tourist visits in
which the purchase or consumption of regional
foods (including drinks) or the observation and
study of food production (from agriculture to
cookery schools) are a major incentive or
activity’’ and this can be interpreted as a ‘’food
 culture’’ with the transmission of knowledge  The distance covered is not as important as the
about the location and its culture through fact that we are always on the move.
tradition.  We are all ‘’travelers’’ of a sort and we are all
 While some people are looking for and ‘’eaters’’. Therefore, we can also all be regarded
interested in similar preferences, others are as ‘’food travelers’’.
looking for and interested in different tastes.  Previously the World Food Travel Association
 In this regard, it is important to note that food had used the phrase ‘’culinary tourism’’ to
consumption is not the same as it is in one’s describe our industry.
daily routine. Aside from the norm, tourism  ‘’Food Tourism’’ includes the food carts and
allows them to try new foods and tastes. street vendors as much as the locals-only
 Culinary tourism is defined as ‘’involvement in (gastro) pubs, dramatic wineries, or one-of-a-
distinctive or unique food experiences kind restaurants. There is something for
associated to a tourist destination and is based everyone in the food tourism industry.
on the food experience’’. Food Tourism includes activities such as:
 Culinary tourism is defined as ‘’visit to primary 1. Food tours
and secondary food producers, food festivals, 2. Cooking classes
restaurants, and distinctive sites for which the 3. Specialty dining experiences
primary goal to travel is food tasting and/or 4. Research and experiments
experiencing the qualities of specialist food 5. Wine, beer and food festivals
production’’. Importance of Gastronomical Tourism
 As a subset of cultural tourism, gastronomic 1. Cultural Enrichment
tourism encompasses not only restaurant dining, 2. Economic Stability
food festivals, factory tours, educational 3. Community Development
seminars, and farm visits, but also chefs, media 4. Employment and Income
and tourism providers, catering services, tourism 5. Restoration and Preservation
services, governmental regulations, public 6. Innovations
awareness, food image, promotion and 7. Social Understanding
marketing. 8. Spread of Tourism
 Culinary tourism, in other words, can include 9. Broader Culinary Experience
live-in cooking classes, traditional gastronomic 10. Higher demand for varied styles of cuisines for
feasts, and festivities, grape harvesting, and/or foodservice operators
visits to regional wineries and food producers.
 However, food tourism and food intake as part of
travel should not be conflated at this time.
Tourism and food are two businesses that share
a significant similarity in that they are both rising
demand and output, and curiosity, both
industries are developing their own style reasons
for this development in production.
Culinary of Food Tourism
 It is the product of one-of-a-kind and
unforgettable dining and drinking experiences,
both locally and internationally.
 Cultural tourism varies from agritourism in that it
is a subset of cultural tourism (food is
manifestation of culture), whereas agritourism is
a subset of rural tourism.
 However, culinary tourism and agritourism are
intimately linked, as the roots of cuisine can be
found in the countryside.
 Gourmet cuisine isn’t the only type of
culinary/food tourism. Experiential travel
includes food tourism as a subgenre. Culinary
tourism is not restricted by food culture, even if
many cities, regions and countries are famed for
their cuisine.
 Every tourists eats three times a day, making
food one of tourism’s most important economic
drivers.

The World Food Travel Association offers the

following Clarifications and Definition
 We say ‘’food tourism’’ but drinking beverages is
an implied and associated activity. It is also
cumbersome to say ‘’food and drink tourism’’.
 The act of travelling is implied because most
people travel at least across their own town, if
not the region, the country and even the planet.