Prospects for the Turkish Gastronomy Tourism

Gastronomy has not only been gaining more and more attention lately but it also has evolved to being an integral part of the every-day life in modern societies. The reason for this lies in the fact that it fulfills not only physical but also cultural, social and psychological needs. In this context, exquisite performance in the field of gastronomy attracts worldwide interest and admiration, with gastronomy tourism naturally emerging as a new and quite popular concept; the one of the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences. The aim of this study being the analysis of the specific characteristics and determinants of the modern, tourism industry developing around gastronomy, it is based on the examination of existing market structures as well as future developments. For this purpose, the research method selected is the analysis of a case study on both the empirical and the theoretical level. The example of Turkey, where gastronomy tourism with its special characteristics has been flourishing lately serves as a suitable base for suggesting a strategic plan for improving the industry by exploiting the dynamics of its huge potential.