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1 – 10 of over 2000Nikola Vuksanović and Dunja Demirović Bajrami
The aim of the research was to analyse the image of Vojvodina's cuisine and tourist satisfaction with food experience as part of a rural tourism offer in Vojvodina province…
Abstract
The aim of the research was to analyse the image of Vojvodina's cuisine and tourist satisfaction with food experience as part of a rural tourism offer in Vojvodina province (Serbia). This chapter is based on research carried out among 891 foreign tourists who visited villages in Vojvodina. The obtained results were examined via exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, multiple regression analysis (stepwise method) and T-test. The obtained results indicated that factors like food uniqueness and cultural heritage, food quality and price, nutrition and health benefits of food and affective image of food influence the image of local cuisine. The results showed that local cuisine (food) can serve as a tool for building destination's brand identity. The study pointed out the role and significance of the image of local cuisine on rural tourist attractions but also on tourist satisfaction with food experience. Also, the contribution of the research is reflected in three aspects: theoretical implication, methodological and practical contribution.
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Tangchung Kan, Po-Yi Hsu and Edward C.S. Ku
This study aims to analyze the challenges facing tourism marketing, specifically traditional local cuisines. These challenges include communication with tourists, tourists'…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the challenges facing tourism marketing, specifically traditional local cuisines. These challenges include communication with tourists, tourists' revisit behaviors mediated by place identity and perceived interactivity with service providers.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected via random sampling in Taiwan. The model and hypothesis were tested using a structural equation modeling approach. One thousand participants were invited to respond to a questionnaire. After removing those that declined to participate or returned incomplete questionnaires, 411 valid questionnaire responses were received.
Findings
The findings of this study provide exciting insights into how traditional local cuisine strategies affect tourists' behavior. Governments can foster a destination image with a nostalgic aesthetic to attract more tourists. Moreover, destination marketers should provide mechanisms for instant interactions for tourists, such as mobile travel apps.
Research limitations/implications
This research sample focuses on promoting emotional connections between tourists and the experience of traditional local cuisines at the destination. An understanding of nostalgic cuisine could provide a better understanding of why tourists are willing to engage in unique travel experiences.
Practical implications
Traditional local cuisine providers should consider aesthetics, including their decoration, style, and markers. Further, it is important that service staff make tourists feel comfortable and satisfied with the traditional local cuisine experience.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the destination marketing of traditional local cuisines from the perspective of nostalgia. The findings of this study provide interesting insights into how traditional local cuisine strategies affect tourists' behaviors.
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Reha Kılıçhan, Kurtuluş Karamustafa and Kemal Birdir
Food experience is gaining importance in the increase of sustainable competitiveness of tourism businesses, hence the importance of food consumption measurement in the context of…
Abstract
Purpose
Food experience is gaining importance in the increase of sustainable competitiveness of tourism businesses, hence the importance of food consumption measurement in the context of recent gastronomic trends. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is not any appropriate scale to measure food consumption in the context of recent gastronomic trends. This study aims to fill this gap by developing and validating a scale that tends to measure tourists’ food preferences.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an explorative study with its unique construction and methodological approach. More specifically, scale development procedures were followed through reviewing the literature and gathering the opinions of 20 experts, and then the primary data were collected through the survey applied to 248 foreign visitors to Turkey. Finally, the subsequent survey was applied to 628 foreign visitors to Turkey for the sake of validity.
Findings
This study reveals a scale and validates it. The scale development and validation processes resulted in a three-factor model with 14 items to assess food consumption tendencies: modernist cuisine tendencies, fusion cuisine tendencies and local cuisine tendencies.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the relevant knowledge accumulation by developing and validating a scale measuring food consumption tendencies within the frame of recent gastronomic trends. The authors hope to broaden understanding and utilization of the tendencies and trends by both stakeholders in the tourism industry and academic circles.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first food consumption scale development and validation attempts within the frame of recent gastronomic trends. Considering this, it is hoped that the outcomes are unique and lead academia and practitioners in further research.
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Nimit Soonsan, Panuwat Phakdee-auksorn and Pornchai Suksirisopon
The research aims to determine local food attributes for measuring and evaluating that appeal tourists to the gastronomic city of Phuket, Thailand.
Abstract
Purpose
The research aims to determine local food attributes for measuring and evaluating that appeal tourists to the gastronomic city of Phuket, Thailand.
Design/methodology/approach
The first step is, the item generation, which includes an in-depth interview. Secondly, scale purification includes the exploratory factor analysis, which generates a preliminary factor structure. In the final step, scale validation, confirmatory component analysis is used to test the items and dimensions.
Findings
The 33 items organized into eight dimensions: food quality, authenticity, hygiene, interpersonal, novelty, service provider, foodservice place and value added for a creative city of gastronomy were demonstrated to be valid and reliable after a thorough development process.
Practical implications
The findings assist practitioners in recognizing the many aspects of local food attributes, as well as how destination managers can employ these factors to promote a destination.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the theoretical literature on a gastronomic creative city, with more research into the links between destination management and other important concepts. In terms of the outcomes of a creative city of gastronomy management, this study might serve as a reference for destination managers and travel suppliers.
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Developing an effective destination branding strategy in places that have a negative image is still a difficult challenge to overcome for place marketers. Therefore, the purpose…
Abstract
Purpose
Developing an effective destination branding strategy in places that have a negative image is still a difficult challenge to overcome for place marketers. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how developing and promoting a new cuisine can transform a negative destination image into a positive one. The main premise is that food can be an effective way of rebranding a destination.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method used for this exploratory study was the qualitative content analysis of 50 articles from newspapers and magazines in English and websites from the Mexican tourism boards websites.
Findings
The results of the qualitative content analysis showed that local chefs (who are proud of their city and aim to promote their cuisine through the use of local products and the organization of food events) are fundamental for the development of a new and successful cuisine able to change the negative image of a destination.
Originality/value
The paper provides an innovative approach to destination image restoration by analyzing local gastronomy as an important means to offset the negative media projection of a damaged destination image.
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Vikas Gupta, Antonino Galati and Savita Sharma
This research investigates how foreign tourists' revisit intentions are influenced by their local food consumption (LFC) value by emphasizing their attitude towards the local food…
Abstract
Purpose
This research investigates how foreign tourists' revisit intentions are influenced by their local food consumption (LFC) value by emphasizing their attitude towards the local food and the corresponding destination food image. It will also reveal the foreign tourists' food consumption value and explore its influences on the destination's food image.
Design/methodology/approach
The data collection was performed from 433 foreign tourists who visited Delhi, India, using a structured survey instrument and chief constructs were measured as the first-order reflective variables. The 39 items associated with the LFC value underwent both exploratory and confirmatory evaluations. The authors employed partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The model's discriminant and convergent validity, consistency and overall fit were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Findings
The findings revealed that “tourists' attitudes and behaviors toward the local cuisine” had a significant and positive influence on their “intention to visit/revisit” and “intention to recommend”. Also, “destination food image” significantly and positively influenced the “intention of tourist to visit/revisit”; however, it negatively and insignificantly influenced the “intention of tourists to recommend”.
Research limitations/implications
This research used five variables related to LFC—quality, health/nutrition, emotion, prestige and price—that impact tourists' attitudes and behaviors toward local foods in Delhi. However, in addition to these constructs, other factors or constructs may be involved that could affect the tourists' attitudes and behaviors. Future studies might explore and include these constructs to provide a more comprehensive image of Delhi's LFC value.
Originality/value
Understanding tourists' food-linked behaviors is critical for effective market conduct. However, the interrelations between travelers' destination food image, LFC value, their perceptions of the local cuisine and behavioral intentions are still unknown, and this will be one of the first attempts to discuss these behaviors.
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Mohamed E. Mohamed, Mahmoud Hewedi, Xinran Lehto and Magdy Maayouf
Given the increased importance of food in tourists’ travel experience, the purpose of this paper is to explore the current and future potential of local food and foodways in…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the increased importance of food in tourists’ travel experience, the purpose of this paper is to explore the current and future potential of local food and foodways in marketing Egyptian destinations online.
Design/methodology/approach
The content of 20 Egyptian destination marketing organization (DMO) websites was subject to a content analysis. A checklist was developed based on literature analysis. The frequencies of information related to food culture and cuisine marketing were tallied, followed by a qualitative assessment of contents from the various websites. The results were further discussed with DMO representatives to provide contextualized insights as to the future potential of utilizing local food and food tourism initiatives as a component of DMOs website marketing in Egypt.
Findings
The study noted some initial efforts for Egyptian DMO websites to market food culture and gastronomic practices; however, the results suggest that the usage of food culture on Egyptian DMOs websites is still in its infancy. The study also highlights the challenges that need to be tackled as well as the resources required for food tourism development.
Practical implications
This study illustrates the need and potential capacity of Egyptian DMO websites to market food culture and local cuisines (including traditional foods and table manners). These results are expected to help Egyptian DMOs to strategically embrace local cuisine and food culture as a vehicle for destination marketing.
Originality/value
This case study provides insights for African and other developing economies in their destination marketing. The proposed framework and guidelines are intended to potentially serve as a framework for destination marketers and entrepreneurs to optimize the tourism potential of food culture.
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Alberta Bondzi-Simpson and Julian K. Ayeh
The purpose of this paper is to assess the organisational readiness of small and medium scaled hotels to serve indigenous local cuisines and to segment the hotel properties for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the organisational readiness of small and medium scaled hotels to serve indigenous local cuisines and to segment the hotel properties for gastronomic tourism campaigning and destination marketing aims. The study also explores how the concept of organisational readiness relates to menu decision makers’ intentions, perceived benefits and organisational characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
Organisational readiness was measured by three dimensions (culture, climate and capacity). Data were derived from a survey of primary menu decision makers from 187 hotels in Ghana. Using a combination of hierarchical and non-hierarchical (K-means) algorithms, the hotels were clustered into homogenous groups based on the original raw scores of hotel readiness indicators. The resultant cluster solution was then validated and profiled against relevant external variables.
Findings
Analyses reveal three clusters which distinguish hotels by the degree of readiness to serve indigenous local dishes. The resultant segments differ by hotel category (star rating) as well as by the job positions and perceptions of primary menu decision makers. Unexpectedly, lower class hotels displayed significantly greater levels of organisational readiness to serve indigenous cuisines than those in the higher class category.
Research limitations/implications
The study demonstrates that organisational readiness is related to perceived benefits and intentions. Among others, the findings advance the understanding of organisational readiness in hotels in the context of menu decision-making. Given the need to embed new practices in a fast-changing hospitality environment, insights drawn could also serve as a basis for future research. Generalisability of empirical findings may be limited by the socio-economic context as well as the study’s focus on small and medium scaled hotels.
Practical implications
This paper supports hotel businesses in understanding the concept of organisational readiness and its relation to organisational characteristics and menu decision-making. By highlighting the different clusters of hotels, the findings accentuate the need for destination marketers and gastronomic tourism campaigners to target higher classed hotels and draw attention to the potential benefits of serving indigenous cuisines while addressing latent concerns. The results further underscore the role of organisational culture and the necessity for such campaign activities to be directed towards those with ample influence within the hierarchical structures of hotels.
Originality/value
This is an initial attempt to examine the application of the organisational readiness concept to menu decision-making in hotels and to explore the implications for segmentation purposes. Further analysis revealed the critical role of organisational culture on menu decision-making patterns. Thus, the paper applies an important element of organisational development theory to the hotel industry and represents a valuable contribution to the scant literature on indigenous cuisines in hotel food service contexts.
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Mert Öğretmenoğlu, Kartal Doğukan Çıkı, Büşra Kesici and Orhan Akova
In the field of tourism, numerous studies have been conducted on tourists' food experiences. However, more studies are needed to comprehend tourists' dining experience in unique…
Abstract
Purpose
In the field of tourism, numerous studies have been conducted on tourists' food experiences. However, more studies are needed to comprehend tourists' dining experience in unique cuisines. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to examine the components of tourists' dining experiences related to palace cuisine foods.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a qualitative approach was adopted to capture the components of tourists' dining experiences. The online narratives of tourists (n = 911) who had experienced Ottoman palace cuisine in Istanbul were obtained from an online travel platform (TripAdvisor) and analyzed using content analysis.
Findings
Seven main components were revealed: perceived authenticity, perceived service quality, knowledge, a sense of royalty, food specialties and attributes, a memorable experience and a sense of awe.
Practical implications
By identifying components of the palace cuisine dining experience and their relevant importance, the findings of this study can increase service providers' knowledge and facilitate their jobs. To be able to meet the expectations of tourists experiencing the palace cuisine, service providers can improve their services by considering research results.
Originality/value
Results revealed that obtained six dimensions were parallel with previous studies on food experience; however, this study uncovered a previously unexplored dimension named a sense of royalty. This can be shown as the unique contribution of this study to the tourist food experience literature.
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Ivan K.W. Lai, Dong Lu and Yide Liu
The concept of experience economy states that customers seek experiences whether from products and services. Tourism is at the forefront of the experience economy because tourists…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of experience economy states that customers seek experiences whether from products and services. Tourism is at the forefront of the experience economy because tourists are looking for staged experience encompassing the four realms (entertainment, educational, esthetic and escapism). The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the effects of the experience economy on tourists’ word-of-mouth (WOM) in Chengdu cuisine through satisfaction and memory.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 397 valid data were collected from the tourists who have experienced the ethnic cuisine in Chengdu. A partial least-square structural equation modeling technique was used to examine the research model.
Findings
The empirical results indicated that esthetic is the antecedent of the other three realms of experience economy; esthetic, educational and entertainment experiences influence satisfaction; four realms of experience economy influence memory; and satisfaction and memory ultimately influence WOM.
Practical implications
The findings of this study provide practical implications for operators of ethnic restaurants in designing their restaurants and menus, travel agencies in planning the tour itinerary and governments in using ethnic cuisine for destination marketing.
Originality/value
This study is a pioneer in studying the experience economy in the ethnic cuisine. It has identified the relationships between four dimensions of experience economy of ethnic cuisine, tourist satisfaction, memory and WOM toward ethnic cuisine in a tourist destination. It has also integrated the senses of Chinese cuisine (“sight,” “smell” and “taste”) into the measures of esthetic experience for studying experience economy in ethnic cuisine.
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