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The role of luxury gastronomy in culinary tourism: An ethnographic study of Michelin‐Starred restaurants in France
Author(s) -
Batat Wided
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of tourism research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.155
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1522-1970
pISSN - 1099-2340
DOI - 10.1002/jtr.2372
Subject(s) - gastronomy , tourism , attractiveness , destinations , ethnography , advertising , rural tourism , tourist destinations , geography , marketing , business , tourism geography , psychology , archaeology , psychoanalysis
This paper investigates the role of Michelin‐starred chefs as change‐makers and advocates of tourism activities in both rural and urban areas. We conducted a longitudinal ethnographic study in 35 French Michelin‐starred restaurants (1, 2, and 3 Michelin stars) in France from 2014 to 2018. Our results show that there are four significant forms of activities implemented by luxury restaurants to enhance destination attractiveness: (a) designing unique luxury gastronomic experience offerings, (b) promoting terroir products and rural food tourism, (c) gastronomization of rural destinations, and (d) augmenting the media capital of the destination.