Role of Gastronomy in Tourists’ Overall Experience: A Psychological Study of Agra (Uttar Pradesh)

Abstract

Purpose- The objective of this research is to assess the dining experiences of travelers in relation to their contentment, a focal strategic objective in the fields of hospitality and tourism. This study seeks to illustrate that, within the total number of tourists that visit Agra, there is a separate and focused market niche dedicated to food. This study looks into the various elements that impact travellers' overall experience. The study's emphasis is Agra, a well-known tourist and culinary destination in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Design/Methodology/Approach-In order to conduct the study, 320 tourists visiting Agra were given survey questionnaires. The data were analysed using statistics. Numerous academic works identified the elements that impact travellers' overall experiences. To investigate the link between the evaluations of the specific culinary tourism industry and visitors' overall experience, the hypotheses were developed and evaluated.

Findings-The study's findings may serve as suggestions for the nation's hospitality and tourism sectors as well as for operators of tourist destinations as they position their strategies for attracting gastronomy visitors in diverse regions.

Originality/Value-According to the findings, 17.31% of those surveyed said that food was their primary motivation for travel. According to descriptive data, the quality, the value perceived & tourist expectations of local cuisine all have a positive and substantial impact on visitors' overall experiences.