ABSTRACT
The preceding four chapters have provided a background to food and drink tourism and have suggested the causes for it to be emerging strongly now. They have shown that some of the main reasons for food and drink tourism appearing are for it to act as a vehicle for helping ‘save’ rural areas. Food and drink tourism is seen as having use and benefit towards retaining the countryside’s traditional aspect, keeping it looking cared for and farmed, and towards the rural community having economic livelihood and a vibrant socio-cultural milieu – and with outsiders and visitors bringing new refreshment to this. The wider dimension is of projects and initiatives being for the development not only of the countryside but of any disadvantaged places and which have an existing function or potential ability of delivering food, drink and hospitality, and associated products, to the tourist and visitor.
