Preferences for local food: Tourists versus local residents

Abstract

This study examines preferences for local foods by two distinct consumer groups: local residents and tourists. In an incentive-compatible framed field experiment, a series of dichotomous-choice tasks involving oyster purchases were completed by 758 individuals: 341 local residents recruited at a Division of Motor Vehicles office and 417 tourists recruited at a beach ferry terminal. The experimental design allowed us to investigate differences in preferences between tourists and local residents for locally produced oysters. Our estimates suggest both locals and tourists are willing to pay more for local oysters than for nonlocal ones, though this result is only statistically significant among tourists. The findings from this study shed light on potential designs for labels of food products, particularly when marketed in popular tourism areas.