The role of luxury gastronomy in culinary tourism: An ethnographic study of Michelin‐Starred restaurants in France

Abstract

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.

Contemporary issues and future trends in food tourism

“…The following section captures the importance of each paper in‐turn. First , Batat (2020) conducted a longitudinal ethnographic and qualitative mixed‐method study (i.e., ethnography, interviews and online discussions) within French Michelin‐starred restaurants. Focus was placed on examining the role of Michelin‐starred chefs as change‐makers and advocates of tourism activities in both rural and urban areas in France.…”

Gastronomy Tourism and Destination Branding: The Study of Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Croatia

“…Gastronomy comes from the Greek word gastronomia which means "the art of the good food" (Batat and De Kerviler, 2020). Gastronomy has been conceptualized for the first time in 1825 by the French gastronomist Brillat-Savarin who defined it as "systematic understanding of all that relates to individuals, as they eat" (Batat, 2020). More so, gastronomy aims to preserve humankind through the finest likely food (Batat et al, 2019).…”

“…More so, gastronomy aims to preserve humankind through the finest likely food (Batat et al, 2019). Another definition of gastronomy has been offered by Batat (2020:3) as a continuous search for the highest quality, a hedonistic desire, a pleasure, a set of knowledge and culture. Therefore, gastronomy incorporates the cultural heritage of a country and should constitute one's heritage regardless to the social position (Staiff & Bushell, 2013).…”

“…F ood is often one of the most important elements in discovering cultures and attracting gastronomy tourists to destinations (Batat, 2020). Gastronomy tourism includes eating and drinking experiences that occur during visiting destinations.…”

“…They lack knowledge about the role of restaurants and chefs in building positive tourism destination brands through luxury gastronomy tourism. Hence, gastronomy tourism, as being an integral part of the food and cultural tourism activities, is a growing market attracting not only the luxury niche but many different segments of tourists (Batat, 2020). Only few scientific articles have shown the importance of luxury gastronomy tourism as being an important area of research (Batat, 2020;Barrere et al, 2014) implying that this area of research can inform other tourism scholars of different strategies of marketing activities that can be used in promoting destinations.…”