What is the role of gastronomy for UNESCO World Heritage Sites’ tourists? The case of Évora, Alentejo

Abstract

UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) have a unique identity and a distinctive brand, acting as icons to attract visitors seeking to learn about and experience cultural (ancient/traditional) heritage. Gastronomy, as cultural heritage and a tourism resource, reinforces the cultural and social identity of a destination. The small city of Évora, classified by UNESCO since 1986 as a WHS, is integrated in a predominantly rural region of Portugal (Alentejo) and presents very distinctive particularities not only regarding built heritage, but also intangible heritage, with strong rural links, such as the gastronomic resources. In this context, the present article aims to identify the importance that visitors give to gastronomy for visiting the city of Évora, a UNESCO WHS, and to identify differences in terms of profile and travel behaviour of the gastronomic visitors.