Development of the Concept of Sustainable Agro-Tourism Destinations-Exploring the Motivations of Serbian Gastro-Tourists

One of the key elements for the development of an agro-tourism destination can be specific gastronomy. In this context, research and understanding of the motivation of tourists who visit those destinations can influence the development of the concept of their sustainability, which was the goal of this research. The research was conducted during 2022 on a total sample of 607 respondents who stayed in agro-tourism destinations in the Republic of Serbia. The paper presents motivational factors that potentially influence the frequency of gastronomic tourists to try local gastronomic specialties and food in agro-tourism destinations. The results indicate that the cultural experience dimension, excitement dimension, interpersonal, relation dimension, and sensory appeal dimension show a significant influence on the visitation of agro-tourism destinations by gastronomic tourists, while the health concern dimension factor does not show statistical significance. The results undoubtedly indicate that certain socio-demographic characteristics of gastro-tourists have an impact on the development of an agro-tourism destination, in the direction that the more educated as well as women have more positive attitudes towards the influence of motivational factors on the development of an agro-tourism destination.

Automated summary

Specific gastronomy plays a vital role in the development of agro-tourism destinations. Understanding the motivations of tourists visiting these destinations is crucial for the sustainable development of such concepts. This research investigated a total of 607 respondents who stayed in agro-tourism destinations in the Republic of Serbia in 2022. The results revealed significant influences of cultural experience, excitement, interpersonal relations, and sensory appeal dimensions on the visitation of agro-tourism destinations by gastronomic tourists.