The cognitive development of food taste perception in a food tourism destination: A gastrophysics approach

This study aims to explore the nature and processes involved in the cognitive development of food tourist's taste perception and identify cognitive factors influencing their food taste experience in the context of a food tourism destination. Adopting a gastrophysics approach, this exploratory qualitative research analyses food taste perceptions of Chinese domestic tourists during their visit to the Hangzhou Cuisine Museum and its associated restaurants. The findings suggest that prior knowledge formation as a manifestation of cognitive signs relating to Hangzhou cuisine and interpretive cognitive information acquired at the museum exhibition, greatly affect the tourists' local food taste experiences: these comprise menu selection and appetitive responses in textual, visual and gustatory senses. This paper sheds light on important theoretical and practical implications for stakeholders concerning tourist experiences around food taste perception in food tourism destinations and attractions.