The objective of this paper is to propose a comprehensive framework for analysing visitor experiences when they engage with local food related dining in the destination. The framework is developed on the basis of a review of the relevant literature on visitor experiences in the tourism industry in general and in the dining-related contexts in particular. Taking account of the internal and external factors, the proposed framework views dining experiences as three sequential stages as follows: pre-dining, during-dining, and post-dining.
This paper represents a significant contribution to the literature in two ways. Firstly, the proposed conceptual framework contributes to the tourism marketing literature by providing a holistic investigation of the full spectrum of visitor experiences. Secondly, since culinary experiences can enhance the overall experience and help to engage visitors more actively with the destination, the proposed framework offers an improved understanding of food-oriented visitor behaviours. In addition, it expands the literature on culinary tourism by providing insights into dining experiences that are specific to international visitors.