Investigating Food Tourism Growth: A Proposal for West Midlands, UK

This research proposal investigates the increasing popularity of food tourism, particularly in the context of the West Midlands Growth Company in the UK. It aims to understand the reasons behind this growth and identify key criteria for creating successful food tourism destinations. The proposal outlines a methodology based on interpretivism, an inductive approach, and systematic literature review, utilizing qualitative data from secondary sources. The literature review explores the definition of food tourism, its cultural and experiential aspects, and the factors driving its popularity, such as lasting memories, cultural insights, and media influence. Furthermore, it identifies leadership, market readiness, community collaboration, and effective destination marketing as crucial elements for the West Midlands Growth Company to consider in developing a thriving food tourism sector.

Research proposal
Table of Contents

Topic: Growing popularity of Food Tourism..................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Aim.........................................................................................................................................1
Rationale.................................................................................................................................1
Objective.................................................................................................................................2
Research question...................................................................................................................2
Methodology....................................................................................................................................2
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................3
To get better understanding about the concept of food tourism.............................................4
To investigate about the reasons that contributes and leads to growing popularity of the Food
Tourism sector........................................................................................................................4
To determine key criteria which can be adopted by West Midlands Growth Company that
constitutes in the creation of successful Food Tourism destination.......................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Topic: Growing popularity of Food Tourism
INTRODUCTION
It has been seen that in Today's world the tourist are being seemed to be more informed
along with having more and better in-sight in the culture thus, a well informed traveller seemed
to have a looking for all new experiences that it can have. Further Food provides a more better
gateway and insight in the into other cultures by the way of taste and better implication about
their trends through food preparation along with evaluating about the whole eating environment
of a particular place or destination (Kim, Park and Lamb, 2019). Apart from this, it has been also
a fact that food and drink leads to and provide a more lasting memories and forms a vital aspect
that forms a major part of defining a holiday or travelling experience of a tourist. Therefore,
theses aspects comprises of enhanced insight in the culture and better travelling experience are
the main reasons and factors that lead to growing populaity in the sector of food travel. Current
assignment is basically based on West Midlands Growth Company that is a well known regional
investment promotion and economic development agency of UK (Fusté-Forné and Berno, 2016).
Main aim of West Midlands Growth company is to attract higher level of jobs, investment and
larger number visitors in UK thus, current research proposal is based in examining the feasibility
of food tourism within in West Midlands to establish and create a more culinary destination
within in UK.
Aim
“To investigate about the growing popularity in the Food Tourism sector along with
identifying the key criteria that constitutes in the creation of successful Food Tourism
destination”. A research project on West Midlands Growth Company.
Rationale
The adoption and selection of current research topic based on analysis of growing
popularity of food tourism is vital and significant as food forms and makes an essential part of
travelling experience of a tourist. Besides this, development of food destination provide and
facilities a more better insight and implication about ones culture thus, development of food
destination offers and provide a much better option and way for attracting a larger number of
travellers and visitors to a destination. Apart from this, implication of current research topic also
meets and supports the personal interest of researcher along with enquiring better skills
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development and enhanced competencies to add on in academic and educational aspects of
researcher and other scholar. Thus , current research project is seems beneficial for tourism
sector and hospitality organisation as it would lead to attract larger number of visitors and tourist
by the way of grabbing the opportunity lead out by the growing popularity of food industry.
Objectives
 To get better understanding about the concept of food tourism.
 To investigate about the reasons that contributes and leads to growing popularity of the
Food Tourism sector.
 To determine key criteria which can be adopted by West Midlands Growth Company that
constitutes in the creation of successful Food Tourism destination.
Research questions
The main research questions address and evaluate through current investigation are being
stated and provided as follows:
 What is meant by the concept of food tourism?
 What could be the possible reasons that contributes and leads to growing popularity
of the Food Tourism sector?
 What are the set key criteria which can be adopted by West Midlands Growth
Company that constitutes in the creation of successful Food Tourism destination?
Methodology
This section provides information about the expected research approach and methods that
would be utilised and adopted by a researcher to perform and lead out an investigation in more
systematic and better way (Kim, Choe and Lee, 2018). Implication of research onion model has
been made for current research to have proper justification about the selection of methods for
current investigation a discussion of which is provided as below:
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Figure 1: Research Onion, 2020.
Research Philosophy- There are four main kinds and parts of research philosophies which
consists of realism, positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism. With respect to nature of current
study adoption and implication of interpretivism philosophy is made as it facilitates better
analysis and support for in-depth and theoretical form of data (Robinson and Getz, 2016).
Research approach- This being the second layer of research onion which is divided and
bifurcated into two main types which consist of deductive and inductive approach. It has been
analysed that current research work is tend to be more theoretical and in-depth form of analysis,
thus adoption and use of inductive approach is most suitable and justifiable. Further, inductive
approach also support and leads to better scanning and testing of qualitative set of information.
Research strategy- This provides a base and framework for complete research which
represent and set out the complete process of data collection and analysis. The main forms and
types of research strategy comprises of action research, experiment, observation, systematic
literature review, survey, observation, etc (Slocum and Curtis, 2017). For current research
project, it has been analysed that implication of systematic literature review is most suitable as it
support better surrey and analysis of sufficient amount of data to draw a better understanding and
implication about selected topic.
Choices of Method- There are basically two main form of research method which consists
of qualitative and quantitative form of research method. Out of these two forms of research
method implication and utilisation of qualitative form of research method is more suitable it
support theoretical and in-depth form of data. Further, qualitative form of data is also suitable as
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it lead and facilities better understanding of behaviour and attitude of people to draw and lead out
a better result and conclusion.
Time Horizons- There are two common form of time horizons which comprises of
longitudinal and cross sectional form of time duration on the basis of time required for its
completion (Stone, Migacz and Wolf, 2019). Implication of cross sectional form of time horizons
is more suitable for current research work as it support and facilitates completion of research
project in shorter period of time through presenting and setting out all research task and activities
at specific point of time.
Data collection and analysis- There are two common form of sources of data collection i.e.
primary and secondary sources of data collection. With regard to current research work data has
been collected from secondary sources only as it facilitates a more easy and simplest form data
collection with the help of past available literature and books and journals. Analysis of secondary
form of data is made under the head of literature review which comprises of evaluation of online
articles and journals based on current research topic.
Literature Review
This section of research proposal provides better analysis and evaluation of secondary
information and data with the help of review and survey of literature which comprises of articles,
books and journal (Fusté-Forné, 2020). Literature review provides a base and framework for an
investigation through lading better understanding and implication of selected topic and its
objective. With respect to current investigation utilisation and implication of online article and
journals are made which are based on the topic of food tourism to get better implication of
selected topic a discussion and analysis of which is provided below.
To get better understanding about the concept of food tourism.
As per the view point of Tsai, C.T.S. and Wang, Y.C., 2017, the concept of food tourism
basically represent a comprehensive way of travelling that is defined and evaluated as an
activity that provide and promotes better experiences of food consumption and appreciation taste
of food and beverages that are presented in such a manner that facilities and leads to better value
the history of a destination (What is Food Tourism?, 2020). Apart from this, it has been observed
that the concept of food tourism also provides and facilitates a better implication and
understanding about the culture and basic environment and daily life taste of a destination or of a
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particular region. It has been also observed that the term Food also present and set out a simple a
matter of travelling that is beyond the immediate neighbourhood of an individual with the main
aim to find out a greater food and taste at of a particular destination. Thus, an analysis can be that
the Food tourism is mainly associated with exploring different types of cuisines that have seemed
to be always been associated with the moments of leisure and convenience for the travel. Apart
from this, it has been also analysed that the concept of food tourism has been evolved to
encompass activities beyond the plate which consists of all sort and form of touristic and
entertainment activities addition to gastronomy. Thus, an analysis can be made that the food
tourism sector provides and leads to enhanced value for developing up the relationship between
food and the destination society which act as a pillar of regional identity and cultural heritage to
provided better implication in the cloture and history of a particular region (Muangasame and
Park, 2019).
To investigate about the reasons that contributes and leads to growing popularity of the Food
Tourism sector.
With respect to the information provided by the Hall, C.M. and Gössling, S. eds., 2016, it
has been that the food tourism sector plays a vital and significant role in providing and leading a
lasting impact and better memories for a traveller and engage there travelling experience. Apart
from this, it has been also observed that the food tourism provides and lead out a more better
insight and detailed implication about the heritage and culture of a specific destination. Further,
it has been also observed that the Food tourism sector is also provides a latest trend and effective
manner for shaping its and leading enhanced food interest among travels which facilitates better
and enhanced attraction for visitors to come and spend their disposable income on rising trend of
food tourism (Kim, Choe and Lee, 2018). Beside this, the rising trend and enhanced promotion
lead out by the celebrity chef and media has also lead a substantial influence on rising and
growing popularity of food tourism sector.
To determine key criteria which can be adopted by West Midlands Growth Company that
constitutes in the creation of successful Food Tourism destination
According to the information provided by the Adriano Ciotoli . 2020, it has been evaluated
that ensuring and leading out effective leadership can be taken key criteria which can be adopted
by West Midlands Growth Company that constitutes in the creation of successful Food Tourism
destination as effective Leadership ensures and lead to free articulates and better vision to ensure
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the practical support by key industry stakeholders for effective development and success of food
tourism destination. Leading out and taking Market-Ready or Near-Market-Ready strategy is
also a vital way to attract and cater larger number of visitors and travellers for success of food
tourism destination. Partnership and Community-Based Collaboration also leads to an effective
way for West Midlands Growth Company that constitutes in the creation of successful Food
Tourism destination as it support higher financial investment and larger number of visitors (Kim,
Park and Lamb, 2019). Adoption and implication of an Effective Destination Marketing
Organization is also a vital way to promote and advertise about food tourism sector that can be
further taken as a key criteria which can be adopted by West Midlands Growth Company that
constitutes in the creation of successful Food Tourism destination.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of current research file a conclusion can be made the food tourism sector is
continuously growing as it facilitates a better analysis and mire in-depth insight in the cultures
and heritage of a specific destination by the way of food taste. Further, it has been analysed that
better use of promotion by famous chef and effective leadership and partnership in the sector of
food tourism sector are the key factors and aspects that are facilitate success and enhanced
growth of food tourism sector. At last an analysis can be drawn that implication of qualitative
form research method facilitates and leads to a more in-depth and theoretical form study to have
a more specific and authentic set of result.
REFERENCES
Books and journal
Tsai, C.T.S. and Wang, Y.C., 2017. Experiential value in branding food tourism. Journal of
Destination Marketing & Management, 6(1), pp.56-65.
Hall, C.M. and Gössling, S. eds., 2016. Food tourism and regional development: Networks,
products and trajectories. Routledge.
Kim, S., Park, E. and Lamb, D., 2019. Extraordinary or ordinary? Food tourism motivations of
Japanese domestic noodle tourists. Tourism Management Perspectives, 29, pp.176-186.
Fusté-Forné, F. and Berno, T., 2016. Food Tourism in New Zealand: Canterbury's Foodscapes.
Journal of Gastronomy and Tourism, 2(2), pp.71-86.
Kim, S., Choe, J.Y. and Lee, S., 2018. How are food value video clips effective in promoting
food tourism? Generation Y versus non–Generation Y. Journal of Travel & Tourism
Marketing, 35(3), pp.377-393.
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Robinson, R.N. and Getz, D., 2016. Food enthusiasts and tourism: Exploring food involvement
dimensions. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 40(4), pp.432-455.
Slocum, S.L. and Curtis, K.R., 2017. Food and agricultural tourism: Theory and best practice.
Routledge.
Stone, M.J., Migacz, S. and Wolf, E., 2019. Beyond the journey: the lasting impact of culinary
tourism activities. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(2), pp.147-152.
Fusté-Forné, F., 2020. Savouring place: cheese as a food tourism destination landmark. Journal
of Place Management and Development.
Muangasame, K. and Park, E., 2019. Food tourism, policy and sustainability: Behind the
popularity of Thai food. In Food tourism in Asia (pp. 123-142). Springer, Singapore.
Online:
Adriano Ciotoli . 2020. Tourism Regions to be Successful - WindsorEats. [Online] Available
Through:< https://www.windsoreats.com/2010/02/10-criteria-for-successful-emerging-
culinary-tourism-regions/ >.
What is Food Tourism?. 2020. [Online] Available Through:< https://foodandroad.com/pro/food-
tourism/ >.
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