Memorable gastronomic experience in sustainable tourism destinations: evidence from Croatia

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the nature of the relationship (direct and indirect) between perceived quality aspects (PQ), memorable gastronomic experiences (MGE) and tourist behavioral intentions (BI) in two sustainable destinations in Croatia - Istra and Međimurje. A sample of 414 respondents was collected through a questionnaire. To examine the relationships between PQ, MGE and BI, the primary data were then subjected to PLS-SEM analysis. The findings of this study indicate that a stronger direct relationship between MGE and BI was found in Istria compared to Međimurje. Moreover, among tourists who visited Istria, MGE proved to be a stronger moderator between local food (LF) and BI of tourists. By following the research results in both sustainable destinations, DMOs can create sustainable gastronomic routes with special attention to key elements of quality that promote the MGE.