Food Tourism as a Strategy for Local Economic Development in Durban.

Globalization has accelerated competition and exposed regions, localities, and firms and forced them to adapt to changing economic circumstances and conditions. More recently, researchers have become more interested in food as an essential element of Local Economic Development (LED). Even though LED has previously been focused on increasing production in industries such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing, etc., food tourism has been identified as a niche economic driver. A sample of 149 respondents made up of 82 women and 67 men were randomly selected for the study. Frequency analyses were used to present the sample and dimensions in focus. Significant differences were tested using independent sample t-tests and ANOVA. The results show that eating food is not just what we enjoy but it is a medium of cultural exchange and experience. The use of food tourism LED is based on its role in driving the destinations' competitiveness. For domestic and international tourists, the presence and availability of food fulfill a cultural and emotional gap. Food builds stronger bonds between people and countries and offers an important setting to enhance investment and trade ties. Food has a multiplier effect, which adds value to the local economy by rejuvenating the economic fortunes of the local economy. Food as a tool for economic development presents a fascinating idea about identity, everyday life, and pleasure since it bears a symbolic meaning which determines the destination's attributes and the overall distinct attractiveness. Therefore, certain spaces and assets for tourism development are required as preconditions for successful tourism-LED development. The paper concludes that food tourism has accelerated the growth of investment in events, conferences, and meetings in Durban. However, more scholarly and rigorous research is needed to untangle questions about local economic development and the consumption of local food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]