4. Conclusions and Implications for Future Research
The literature reviewed in this paper has shown the complexity of the visitor experience as comprising multiple phases, the influence of multiple factors, and multiple outcomes. Meanwhile, considering the increased role of culinary tourism in stimulating international visitation, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of how visitors respond to local food related dining experiences. This conceptual paper should be seen as a preliminary attempt to provide a more profound basis for understanding local food related dining experiences by international visitors in the destination context. The proposed framework views dining experiences as the sequential relationships amongst three stages of dining, where in each stage, both internal and external factors contribute to affecting the outcomes of experiences.
However, the proposed framework is not all-encompassing. It will be important to undertake an empirical assessment of the validity of the framework and propositions that have been proposed.Since the framework has developed comprehensively, it should be assessed comprehensively. In other words, a systematic empirical investigation is required with a view to assessing the complexities and the relationships of various stages, factors, and outcomes involving visitor dining experiences.
Given the current lack of studies focusing on investigating visitor local food related dining experiences systematically, the proposed framework can be adapted into the empirical study both by other researchers and DMOs to provide an in-depth knowledge pertaining to how international visitors experiences local food dining. This action is particularly important for DMOs which seek to utilise food tourism as a means of enhancing destination attractiveness