Local Food as a Tool of Tourism Development in Regions

Abstract

This study aims to identify the importance of local food for both the demand and supply sides and to show how local food can be bounded with tourism development in the region. The data presented are based on secondary and primary research. Secondary research includes the literature review and content analysis of documents. The qualitative research included a questionnaire survey among guests of the gastronomic establishments and entrepreneurs. Partial least squares variant of linear discriminant analysis (PLS-LDA) and partial least squares (PLS) as an alternative to standard multivariate methods were used to show the gastronomic establishments guests' and entrepreneurs' opinions on local seasonal food and beverages. The opinions are moreover related to the economically driven interest of guests and entrepreneurs. Based on the typical random variable source, data were gathered from three Czech regions covering the scope of this study. The significant disputes between opinions on local food and beverages are directly applicable in practice, including individual items.