Gastronomic tourism in Greece and beyond: a thorough review

It may be the case that the world is gradually becoming global (and somehow unified), but tourists are more and more looking for experiences based on ‘divergence’, on destination identity and culture. One such strong ‘diversity’ feature is the regional gastronomy. According to Y. Perdomo of UNWTO, each dish conveys a story and each ingredient relates to the story of a touristic destination. In this extensive review of the relevant bibliography and online sources an attempt is made to capture the current situation in the gastronomic tourism globally and specifically in Greece. The review includes introductory material and historical information, reference to the international and regional studies on gastronomic tourism and tourism resources, and an overview of the specificity of the situation in Greece. The study closes by providing a list of promising trends for the future.