EXPLORING RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON GASTRONOMIC TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL URLA ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL

Commodification of local food through food festivals is not only a pleasurable attraction for tourists but also a great advantage for local residents and the well-being of the community. Bearing this in mind, the study aims to explore residents’ perceptions of food festivals based on the specific case of 5.th International Urla Artichoke Festival. A qualitative approach was adopted to highlight residents’ views on festival experience. The results indicated that the event is perceived as an opportunity for the development of gastronomic tourism in the region through promotion of the product and the place, while boosting agricultural productivity and building social capital.