ABSTRACT
The evolution and development of gastronomic tourism arguably has a more substantial genesis in forces capable of penetrating cultural barriers and internationalizing food. These forces include war; disaster or famine; imperialism and colonization; migration and exile. Authenticity and forms of economic, social, cultural, and culinary capital are germane to this discussion about gastronomic tourism. As gastronomic tourism has progressed, continued successful development and evolution of the activity requires study and research which must then be disseminated accordingly if it is to have any beneficial effect. Tourism continues to evolve as part of the contemporary experience economy, and food is increasingly a more obvious and considerable component of that. There is a real need to differentiate between tourists who consume food as a part of the travel experience, and those tourists whose activities, behaviors, and even destination selection are influenced by an interest in food.
