1st Edition

Food Tourism in Urban Places Cultural and Social Experiences

By Francesc Fusté-Forné Copyright 2026
150 Pages 53 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

150 Pages 53 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book explores how food shapes urban identity, through people and practices, and reflects the cultural and social experiences of urban gastronomy. From streets to markets, from restaurants to home, Food Tourism in Urban Places is a way of experiencing cities, connecting with cultures and societies and participating in stories through places. Drawing on examples from around the world,... Read more

Introduction 1. Urban Food Landscapes Inspire Tourism 2. A Network for Rural-Urban Connections Through Food 3. From the Screen to the Street 4. Dining Experiences and Urban Culture 5. A Visual Story of Food in the City 6. The Gastrodiplomacy of Festive Urban Gastronomy 7. Indigenous Exploration of Slow Food Tourism 8. The Distance Traveled by the Food We Eat 9. Regenerative Gastronomy for Community and Social Wellbeing

Biography

Francesc Fusté-Forné is Associate Professor Serra Húnter at the Department of Business, University of Girona, Spain. He is author/editor of numerous books, including co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Regenerative Tourism (Routledge, 2025), Food and Beverage Tourism on Islands (2025), The Food Tourist (2024) and Contemporary Advances in Food Tourism Management and Marketing (Routledge, 2023). He holds a PhD in Tourism from the University of Girona, Spain, and a PhD in Communication from Ramon Llull University, Spain.

“This timely volume by Francesc Fusté-Forné offers essential insights into the evolving landscape of urban food tourism. Through robust, global case studies, often accompanied by compelling contextual imagery, it masterfully illuminates the intersection of food culture, economics, and sustainability in cities worldwide. A useful resource for academics, urban planners, and tourism professionals seeking actionable knowledge, sprouting from lived-experience research in this dynamic field. Highly recommended”.

Dr Hennie Fisher, Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

 

Food Tourism in Urban Places: Cultural and Social Experiences is an inspiring and vital contribution to the evolving landscape of food tourism literature. Dr. Fusté-Forné delves into the powerful role of food as a social language that crafts the identity of cities, informs tourism practices, and unites urban communities across the globe through three dynamic methods: ethnographic storytelling, visual inquiry, and rigorous cultural critique. This enlightening book explores the full spectrum of food experiences, from bustling street food to insightful food museums, vibrant food festivals, and sustainable, regenerative food tourism practices, seamlessly bridging theory and lived experiences”.

Bendegul Okumus, PhD, Professor, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sports Management, University of South Carolina, United States

“In Food Tourism in Urban Places Fusté-Forné takes the reader on a varied and fascinating journey through urban centers across the globe as experienced through their foodways. A range of different qualitative methods, plenty of photographs and a diversity of food experiences bring depth and richness to understanding food tourism in urban environments. Through this, the reader gets a deep appreciation for the integral role that food plays in tourism and placemaking. This is a book that will be of interest to students, researchers, food professionals and food tourists alike”.

Professor Tracy Berno, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand