Egyptian cuisine as a tool for destination marketing

Abstract EN

Food tourism is considered a form of niche tourism.

Food tourism has become a new type of tourism due to the continuous change in tourists' desires in addition to the intensity of competition among destinations.

Both industries tourism and food benefit from this interaction, as food has become an important means of marketing the culture and identity of the destination.

In recent times, the use of food tourism has increased as an essential element in the competitive marketing of the destination.

This research focuses on highlighting the role that the Egyptian cuisine plays in destination promotion.

To achieve the aim of this research, a questionnaire was developed.

The questionnaire was handed who ate Egyptian food in Cairo's five-star hotels.

Results showed that Egyptian cuisine is highly accepted by tourists while they are traveling to Egypt; moreover, there was a strong positive relation between “acceptances of Egyptian cuisine” and “Local food and destination marketing”.

Upon the study findings some recommendations have been suggested.

However, they would prefer to make Egyptian dishes in the future in a healthful manner by minimizing the amounts of fats and carbohydrates.

These findings should compel Egyptian tourism officials to incorporate local dishes as an important touristic product into their marketing plans.

Egyptian tourist officials ought to make greater efforts to promote Egyptian food, providing some types of local food during conferences, Providing translated television programs for food on Egyptian satellite channels that are shown in foreign countries and finally programs offered by tourism companies in Egypt should include the provision of local meals during the visit program.