Exploration of Culinary Tourism in Indonesia: What Do the International Visitors Expect?

More visitors are nowadays travelling to destinations in search of culinary experiences. Food functions not merely as physiological sustenance but also as a destination experience enhancer, providing opportunities to learn about destination culture through direct encounters with local cuisines. This study aimed to identify the international visitor preconceptions of local Indonesian food and the factors influencing their expectations prior to dining with the local food in the country. A questionnaire-based survey involving 349 international visitors was completed. The results revealed seven new emerging factors expected as relating to: staff quality, sensory attributes, food uniqueness, local servicescapes, food authenticity, food familiarity, and food variety. Further, there were significant differences in the level of dining expectations amongst participants who travelled to Indonesia for the first time compared to those who had visited the country before.