Gastronomy Experiences, Authenticity, and Storytelling in Tourism Destinations

Abstract

Today, new tourism demands and trends have led gastronomy to go beyond the mere consumption of food and to including cultural engagement in tourism experiences. This led to the need to consider authenticity in gastronomy since tourists' involvement and satisfaction can be influenced by the destination's unique culture and history. When storytelling is added to these experiences, it provides a narrative that can increase tourist engagement. This chapter is a conceptual analysis that explores the dynamic interplay between gastronomy tourism, authenticity, and storytelling. This interconnection not only promotes memorable tourist experiences but also supports local economies, cultural heritage preservation, cultural identity, and simultaneously encourages place attachment and the development of the destination brand. Thus, by aligning authenticity and storytelling within gastronomy, it has the potential to enhance the overall tourism experience for both tourists and local communities, and thus promotes tourism development.