Culinary tourism and the role of tourist guides in presenting kitchen and food culture

Abstract

Food culture is a culture which shows both the materials used in the preparation of food and beverages and the ropes of cooking art. In terms of tourism, food culture is an important factor for tourists while visiting a country. However, foods which are related to tourists’ culture are generally served in tourism destinations and presenting national kitchen are not considered important. Guidance is a very important service for the tourists who wishes to obtain new and different cultural experiences. So, tourist guides have important responsibilities in presenting national kitchen and food culture. A guide should be well informed about tourist culture and also his/her own culture in order to be a mediator between cultures and to introduce national and food culture to the tourist. The aim of this study was to emphasize the important role of tourist guides in presenting kitchen and food culture. At the end of the study some recommendations were given about presenting kitchen and food culture more efficiently.