ABSTRACT
This chapter presents gastronomic tourism as a tool for local development by focusing on it from the perspective of cultural heritage and the planning of sustainable and responsible tourism. It explores the relationship between the concepts of gastronomy, heritage, and local communities. The chapter deals with a case study based on the development of gastronomic tourism in Catalonia, analysing how it has helped small farmers and producers. It focuses on how gastronomic tourism can help the development of local communities, based on a review of the academic literature. If planned appropriately, gastronomic tourism can bring significant benefits to the regions where it is developed, “benefitting small farmers and food artisans, with ancient crafts and traditions, recipes and products recovered. Gastronomy products and services are becoming an essential element in the enrichment of tourist destinations, making them one of the main identifying and differentiating elements of a place.
