La Proximidad de los Productos Alimentarios: Turismo Gastronómico y Mercados de Abastos en la Costa Daurada (Cataluña, España)

Abstract

El turismo gastronómico es una tipología turística donde los visitantes y turistas se adentran en la cultura y la naturaleza de un lugar a través de su gastronomía y patrimonio culinario. Entre las distintas posibilidades que ofrecen las prácticas de turismo gastronómico se encuentran las visitas a los mercados de abastos. Este artículo analiza el atractivo de los mercados a partir del estudio de la proximidad de los productos que se ofrecen en ellos. Para ello, se analizan tres mercados de tres localidades distintas de la Costa Daurada, en la zona sudoriental de Cataluña. Se han realizado 54 entrevistas a la totalidad de los puestos de alimentación de los mercados, y se han recopilado un total de 938 productos alimentarios. A partir del estudio de los distintos tipos de alimentos se puede determinar el potencial que ofrecen los mercados de abastos como espacios para la práctica del turismo gastronómico.

Food in Slow Tourism: The Creation of Experiences Based on the Origin of Products Sold at Mercat del Lleó (Girona)

“…The results of this research show that there is a similar weight of local-regional foods and national-international foods, which slightly exceeds the proximity product. Although this does not confirm the strength of proximity fruits and vegetables and therefore of a slow tourism experience, it is obvious that products from Girona and its surroundings represent a distinctive element when selling fruits and vegetables, as also reported in previous research [38]. Local products are presented as a path to explore a place through its food heritage [80,81].…”

“…In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism in Catalonia is slowly recovering [76]; however, it must be acknowledged that tourism has not fully recovered from the lockdowns and travel restrictions that have occurred since March 2020 [77]. Following previous research [38], this paper investigates the origin of foods available at the municipal market of Girona. In particular, data collection is focused on fruits and vegetables because within the context of products being sold at municipal markets, "fruits and vegetables are the products that present a greater variety, and, therefore, a greater weight in the total" [38] (p. 221).…”

“…Following previous research [38], this paper investigates the origin of foods available at the municipal market of Girona. In particular, data collection is focused on fruits and vegetables because within the context of products being sold at municipal markets, "fruits and vegetables are the products that present a greater variety, and, therefore, a greater weight in the total" [38] (p. 221). Mercat del Lleó includes nine places that sell fruits and vegetables [78] and all of them are included in the sample.…”

“…In addition, previous research has developed the territorial dimension of food tourism [33] and investigated the role of food tours [34], particularly in the case of wine [35]. From an urban perspective, the relevance of food markets is acknowledged as a path to protect and promote food in urban tourism, and some studies have specifically reviewed the Boqueria market in Barcelona [36,37] and municipal markets in the Costa Daurada region [38]. While previous research has mostly analyzed food tourism in Barcelona [39], other areas within Catalonia remain underrepresented in food tourism research, despite their local food value, as in the case of Girona.…”

Social Value and Urban Sustainability in Food Markets

“…According to Henche (2017) traditional food markets are becoming a cultural attraction, specially related to gastronomy and local lifestyle promotion that can help to promote minoritarian types of tourism, like gastrotourism and experiential tourism, that can be an alternative to the exhausted and predominant mass tourism. Fusté Forné et al (2020) highlight that fresh food is an attractor for both locals and tourists, who can appreciate the authenticity and particular features of the area. Therefore, urban food markets are places appreciated by those who travel for cultural and gastronomic reasons (Crespi-Vallbona and Domínguez-Pérez, 2016;Crespi-Vallbona and Dimitrovski, 2017).…”