Culinary Heritage Tourism: Preserving and Promoting Traditional Food Practices for Tourist Engagement

S Senthilkumar; JS Satish; P Manikandan

doi:10.34293/sijash.v11i3.6891

S Senthilkumar Assistant Professor, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (Deemed to be University), Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu, India https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9928-4919
JS Satish Assistant Professor, T. John College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
P Manikandan Assistant Professor, T. John College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34293/sijash.v11i3.6891

Keywords: Culinary Tourism, Gender Influence, Tourist Preference, Local Cuisine, Madurai

Abstract

The World Food Travel Association reports that 80% of travellers actively seek out culinary experiences while away from home, highlighting the inseparable link between food and tourism. This paper focuses on unravelling the influence of gender on tourists’ preferences for local cuisine. Employing a random sampling method, respondents were selected, and structured questionnaires were administered to collect data. The subsequent analysis involves utilizing descriptive statistics to present a comprehensive overview of participants’ food preferences and paired sample t-tests to discern potential gender-based variations. By exploring this intersection of gender and gastronomy in travel, the research aims to contribute nuanced insights into how diverse preferences shape the overall culinary tourism experience, providing valuable knowledge for both academic and practical considerations in the field.