Culinary experiences as a key tourism attraction. Case Study: Brasov County

• Author: Baltescu C.A.
• Pages: 107-112

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 9 (58) No. 2 - 2016

Culinary experiences as a key tourism attraction.

Case Study: Braşov County

Codruţa Adina BLTESCU1

Abstract: Providing authentic travel services is a prerequisite of increasing the

attractiveness of a holiday destination. The development of the culinary tourism by

integrating the traditional menus in the offer of food services or the organization of festivals

based on culinary traditions of the visited area are components that highlight local

specificities and which ensure the differentiation of the tourism offer on the national and

international market. This article analyses the potential which favours the development of

culinary tourism in Brasov county and which can represent a key element for improving the

image of this tourism destination.

Key-words: culinary experiences, food tourism, food festivals, destination image

1. Introduction

The development of food tourism to a destination enhances the visitors’ experience.

Nowadays issues like how we eat, what we eat and where we eat are subjects which

generate extensive debate, reflection and important actions in our everyday life.

During trips there are no exceptions to these rules, explaining why obtaining

relevant answers to these questions influences the holiday program. Elements such

as the culinary curiosity, the desire to diversify the daily menus, the desire to taste

new or famous dishes are real topics which can facilitate and strengthen knowledge

about the visited destinations, local customs, completing thus the travel experience.

2. Theoretical background

The tourism literature has highlighted that local food and cuisine significantly affect

holiday destination choice (Long, 2004 cited in Alderighi, Bianchi and Lorenzini,

2016; Quan & Wang, 2004), and greatly influence the enjoyment of the stay (Fox,

2007). In such a context, food tourism is quickly becoming one of the most

interesting and popular areas of the tourism industry (Kim, Kim, and Goh, 2011).

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, codruta.baltescu@unitbv.ro