Gastronomic experiences as a key element in the development of a tourist destination

Abstract

Gastronomy is a fundamental pillar of tourism for visitors to discover the cultural heritage of the place they visit, thus turning culinary pleasures into determining motivations for the choice of destination and, simultaneously, an essential variable for the tourist satisfaction conformation of the travelling experience. This research aims to study the gastronomic experiences of travellers in different destinations. The investigation is based on fieldwork with 445 replies to a survey, and the results reveal the positive influence of culinary experiences on gastronomic satisfaction and loyalty to the destination, as well as an influence of gastronomic motivations on the value perceived and culinary experiences. In summary, gastronomic experiences form the backbone of the motivations and subsequent satisfaction and loyalty of travellers in a tourist destination.