The effects of tour guide performance and food involvement on food neophobia and local food consumption intention

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine how food neophobia, food involvement, tour guide performance and intention of local food consumption impact each other. Design/methodology/approach - A survey was performed with a sample of international tourists visiting Antalya, Turkey, and the data were used to test the proposed research model by means of structural equation modelling. Findings - Results reflected a causal relationship among the examined constructs. Although tour guide performance had an insignificant effect on food neophobia, tourists' food involvement negatively impacted and decreased neophobia. Originality/value - This study is an exceptional contribution to the literature, as it empirically investigates the role of tour guides on tourists' local food consumption behaviour.