The effect of local food consumption of domestic tourists on sustainable tourism

This research aims to determine the effect of local food consumption of domestic tourists on sustainable tourism. In addition, the study also aims to: reveal the impact of local foods on economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. In this context, data were collected from 394 domestic tourists visiting the provinces of the Eastern Black Sea region (Artvin, Bayburt, Gumushane, Trabzon and Rize). This research was designed in accordance with the correlational research method, one of the quantitative research designs. The research data were tested using structural equation modeling, which is commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences. As a result, it was found that local food has a statistically significant and positive effect on sustainable tourism. In addition, local food was found to have a positive effect on the subscales (economic, socio-cultural and environmental) of sustainable tourism.