Investigating the role of festivalscape in culinary tourism: The case of food and wine events

This paper analyses the importance of festivalscapes in determining emotions, satisfaction and future behavior of participants at food and wine events. The study applies a structural equation model (SEM) with latent variables to survey responses of visitors to the “Friuli DOC” Italian festival. The main results are that festivalscape and emotions have significant direct effects on satisfaction, which in turn has a significant effect on behavioral intention. The effects of the festivalscape on visitors' future behavior are only indirect and mediated by satisfaction. Thus, in order to enhance their visitors' behavioral intentions, festival organizers should monitor emotions and satisfaction deriving from the subjective perception of exogenous characteristics as food and wine quality, comfort and entertainment.

► Structural equation model on a survey from the “Friuli DOC” food and wine festival.
► Festivalscape and emotions have significant direct effects on satisfaction.
► Satisfaction has a significant effect on behavioral intention.
► Only indirect effects of festivalscape on behavior, mediated by satisfaction.
► Organizers should monitor the effects of food quality, comfort and entertainment.