Local food: a source for destination attraction
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 11 January 2016
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore factors affecting travellers’ food-related behaviour by focusing on the local food market. By doing so, the study contributes to the research on food experience in tourism and food-based regional development. The local food phenomenon presents essential research issues from various perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-administered questionnaire provided to attendees of a travel fair gauges respondents’ food attitudes and food-related behaviour related to information sourcing and perceptions of food experiences.
Findings
The study reveals three types of food-related behaviour. Experiencers are committed; they perceive food as essential to destination choices. They search for food-related information before their trips and value originality, newness and locality, as well as authenticity and uniqueness in local food, which eventually have an impact on travel satisfaction. Enjoyers have more casual attitudes towards food, though they view it as an important aspect of their holiday. For survivors, the local food of their destination serves mainly physiological needs.
Practical implications
Travellers’ food-related attitudes vary, and they behave according to these variations. This information serves as a means to brand hospitality and tourism businesses. Local food attracts travellers and it contributes to the tourist experience, indicating marketing potential for hospitality industries, tourism business and regional development.
Originality/value
This study adds to tourism research by exploring the effect of food attitudes on behaviours related to local food and local food markets. In particular, it highlights information sourcing, including local food and restaurants, and reveals food and eating characteristics that contribute to various types of travellers’ local food experiences, which have received little prior research attention.
Keywords
Citation
Björk, P. and Kauppinen-Räisänen, H. (2016), "Local food: a source for destination attraction", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 177-194. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2014-0214
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited