Tasting experiences of a destination’s local gastronomy on tourist communications

Abstract

ABSTRACT Local gastronomy is both a cultural form and a social code. These aspects can be studied through tourists’ encounters with local gastronomy. Using an analysis of tourists’ social media communications, this study aims to contribute to identifying aspects and understanding processes which shape tourists’ experiences and the potential of local gastronomy. In order to explore these processes tourists’ comments about dining in a sun and sand destination (Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain), hosted on a social network site (TripAdvisor), were analysed in a diachronic manner at several levels. The content analysis was considered followed by a typological review of previous literature combining qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. The results obtained support the need for a dialectical perspective to understand tourists’ encounters with local gastronomy. Tourists’experiences are reflected as social comments that vary between the given and the conferred, with aesthetic values being as relevant as personal ones. Thus, the analysis of social communication of gastronomic experiences contributes not only to understanding the way in which the individual process of experience is constructed but also to recognizing two social practices involved: the construction of touristic awareness and the appropriateness of consumer spaces from a visitors’ perspective.