Influence of Insect-Based Diets on Rural Leisure, Tourism, and Public Consumption—A Case Study from Yunnan, China.

Simple Summary: This study examined the potential of insect-based diets or products for developing rural leisure tourism. The results indicate that insect-based diets or products can help revitalize the economy but are insufficient on their own to drive economic revitalization and stimulate consumption. Instead, improving public infrastructure and tourist facilities, expanding consumer options, and increasing the quality of tourism services and medical care are key for enhancing the use of insect-based diets or goods to stimulate leisure activities, tourism, and consumer engagement. This study analyzed the effects of insect-based diets on rural leisure activities, tourism, and consumption. A questionnaire survey was conducted, with 900 valid samples being obtained. The collected data were then analyzed through descriptive statistical analysis, a t-test, and a Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient test by using the SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Subsequently, semistructured interviews were conducted to collect expert and public opinions on the analysis results. Finally, literature findings and the collected questionnaire and interview data were reviewed through multivariate validation analysis. According to the results, the public agrees that entomophagy culture and insect cuisine can enhance leisure and tourism appeal. Entomophagy culture can also stimulate rural economic, social, and environmental development as well as rural consumption. However, modern public infrastructure and medical facilities are still required to increase tourism accessibility. Local governments must improve public sanitation, moral standards, and the overall quality of tourism and living environments. They must also attract corporate investment and cultivate entrepreneurship among residents to develop new insect-based tourism and leisure activities, food, and products. These measures can enhance the influence of insects on the sustainable development of leisure activities, tourism, and economies in rural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]