Abstract
Contemporary gastronomy is currently recognized as one of the key factors in destination selection for tourists, playing a fundamental role in shaping the tourism experience. This study focuses on analyzing the gastronomic experience of tourists who consume tapas in Spain. The results are based on fieldwork from which 612 surveys were obtained. Through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), three experiential dimensions were identified: atmosphere, sensory, and authenticity. Additionally, the study reveals statistically significant differences for each dimension based on certain sociodemographic characteristics of the tourists. The practical application of these results would allow for the development of tourism promotion strategies and the improvement of gastronomic offerings in different tourist destinations.