In this dissertation, the gastronomic identity of Thessaloniki and what is not working as to
provoke Thessaloniki as a Gastronomic Capital, is analyzed.
To begin with, as
public and private interest is motivated so as to gain a relationship
between gastronomy, tourism and branding
, the definitions of them are synthesized.
Gastronomy
as a definition is the art or activity for cooking and eating fine food
, as
Merriam
-
Webster’
s dictionary of English usage
informs, (1993), and
“food tourism is an experiential
trip to a gastronomic region, for recreational or entertainment purposes, including visits to
primary and secondary producers of food, gastronomic festivals, food fairs, events, farmers’
markets, cooking shows and demonstrations, degustation of quality food products or any
tourism activity relevant to food”
, according to
Hall and Sharples
, (2003).
Introducing Thessaloniki,
a city constructed along the
sea, into Thermaïkos Gulf, a modernized
metropolis
bearing the marks of its blustery
history
and its
cosmopolitan character
, results
that the location of the buns took a series of great gastronomy ventures mainly of young
people who tried to renew the tradition of the city by introducing new cooking methods,
blends, materials and traditions studied elsewhere.
So
,
Thessaloniki, a city with a strong
Gastronomic character
, attempts to showcase.
An
important initiative, organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki
in
2011, is the
Food Festival
.
The gastronomic event promotes the luxury of the local cuisine, the local market and
stakeholders, the destination as a Gastronomic city, and of course, the educational and social
character by forming a culture of qualitative consciousness
(Vassiliadis, 2016).
Moreover,
Thessaloniki has its own representatives in culinary events, that react as food ambassadors
.
The three young chefs organize cooking lessons, promote the local cuisine, products and
shops and launch the “Food Basket”.
The
Food
Basket
is a new concept,
(2017). This basket is
composed of local products that are directly related to the city's flavor
. Other events are the
first
Street Food festival
,
the
Kapani Project
and the
thessBrunch
.
In order to achieve the specific aims of t
he dissertation, Trip Advisor’s reviews about food
and beverage departments were analyzed, a
questionnaire
was conducted
so as to
assess
tourist’s perception of the Gastronomy of Thessaloniki
,
Phenomenon Mapping
was
implemented
,
finding out what makes a tourist decide where to eat and what influence their
path from one to another,
Photovoice
was processed
, answering
which is the “Gastronomic
Product” of Thessaloniki, the portfolio product that tourists should taste and
stakeholders,
locals, tourists and civilians were interviewed.
The results of the research showed that there do exist excellent events in Thessaloniki, that
promote the gastronomic identity of the city and simultaneously attract visitors as well as
hard work and ideas endure to provoke the city as a Gastronomic Capital. In the other hand,
unfortunately, there is a gap between local cuisine and stakeholders. There is not enough
communication between them and as a result, good proposals are not notified. Lastly, due to
low budget of Thessaloniki’s Municipality, there is a shortage in food branding policies.
To conclude, strong roots, a historic background, countless recipes and years of tradition
correlate with Thessaloniki. By organizing a Food Policy Council, which means funds and
collaboration of locals and stakeholders, adopting different food habits (alternative boost of
Gastronomic issues, such as biological products, nutritional diets, etc.) as Copenhagen
4
promotes and focusing in the Branding of its Gastronomy, magnificent results could come of,
and Thessaloniki win the title of the Gastronomic capital of Greece and why not Globally
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