A qualitative research n the gastronomy tourism potential of Kastamonu province and stakeholder views

Everything a nation or city does to draw tourists is referred to as tourism. Tourism comes in many forms, including sea, nature, and cultural. Gastronomic tourism is one of these forms of tourism. With its high economic return, gastronomic tourism helps to maintain the region's cultural values and pass them on to future generations while bringing tourists to the destination where it is located throughout the entire year.Due to its geography and the fact that it has been the site of numerous civilizations, the province of Kastamonu offers a variety of tourist attractions. These include tourism centered on gastronomy, nature, culture, and religion. Both domestic and international tourists have a wide range of options. Through interaction, cultures change, expand, and move from the past to the present. The development of diverse and rich cultures as well as the replacement of various regional flavors in Kastamonu cuisine have both benefited from this circumstance. By incorporating stakeholder opinions, this thesis study aimed to assess Kastamonu City's potential for gastronomic tourism. The research method used was qualitative. 13 tourism stakeholders who oversee the industry in the province of Kastamonu were interviewed using a semi-structured interviewing technique in order to gather data for the study. The results of the in-person interviews with stakeholders revealed that Kastamonu has the potential to become a leading destination for gastronomic tourism, but that it is not yet at the desired level. In this instance, recommendations have been made for the growth and improvement of gastronomic tourism in Kastamonu.