The Influence of Local Culinary Experience on Destination Familiarity and Future Intention in Eastern Indonesia

KOROMPIS, AURELIA LEONY BRIGITTA and GUNAWAN, VIANDA THREETA VUTRI and Kristanti, Monika and Thio, Sienny and Wibowo, Yoel (2024) The Influence of Local Culinary Experience on Destination Familiarity and Future Intention in Eastern Indonesia. In: 7th International Hospitality & Tourism Conference 2024, 04-12-2024 - 04-12-2024, Putrajaya - Malaysia.

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Abstract

In Indonesias tourism sector, particularly in the eastern regions, culinary tourism has emerged as a growing attraction. This study focuses on understanding the influence of local culinary experiences on tourists future intentions, with destination familiarity acting as a mediating factor. The research examines whether local culinary experiences, destination familiarity, and future intention are interconnected, specifically in the context of Indonesias eastern destinations: Makassar, Manado, Lombok, Banjarmasin, Kupang, and Balikpapan. The study utilizes a quantitative correlation design to explore the relationships between these variables. Data were collected from 360 domestic tourists who visited these locations, and responses were analyzed by SmartPLS to ensure the validity and reliability of the findings. The results revealed that local culinary experiences significantly affect both destination familiarity and future intention, with destination familiarity serving as a crucial mediating factor. While all independent variables demonstrated significant beta coefficients, it is important to note that local food attributes (LFA) had a minimal impact on both destination familiarity and future intention (β = 0.111, p = 0.030, f² = 0.010). In contrast, emotional and epistemic benefits exhibited stronger effects, indicating that enhancing the overall culinary experience is essential for fostering destination loyalty. These findings affirm the research hypotheses and emphasize the vital role of culinary experiences in shaping tourists perceptions and intention through destination familiarity, thereby suggesting that a comprehensive approach to culinary tourism can better improve tourist retention and encourage future visits.

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