The Chinese domestic tourists’ perceptions of Beijing heritage food

Abstract

Many researchers have taken an interest in the relationship between food and heritage, including as it relates to food tourism. Food makes a significant contribution to destination development and tourist experiences, including as a medium embodying elements of cultural heritage to visitors. However, to date most academic studies have investigated food more generally in the tourism system, with studies specifically focused on heritage food relatively limited. This paper aims to explore domestic tourists’ perspectives on Beijing heritage food in Beijing, China, with three main research questions: (i) what do tourists understand about heritage food, (ii) What and how do tourists engage with Beijing heritage food during their travels, and (iii) what do tourists understand about heritage food authenticity and why. Food is shown to have played a relatively significant role in respondents’ travel experiences in Beijing, with many tourists likely to seek out local Beijing cuisine. This is particularly the case for the identified ‘foodies’ in the sample, who express more positive attitudes towards local food and a stronger intention to consume Beijing heritage food.