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The protection of gastronomic heritage as a vehicle for belonging and emotion
Emotourism is an emerging trend rooted in the quest for enriching experiences that awaken the senses and stir the memory.
Unlike conventional tourism, which prioritises destinations and pre-designed itineraries, this model places the visitor at the very heart of the experience, making them the protagonist of a unique and deeply personal journey.
It reflects the profound social, generational, and technological shifts that are transforming the way people travel and connect with the world around them.
Emotourism encompasses any experience that makes a profound emotional impact on those who take part in it.
All generations engage with this trend to some degree, although the most recent ones, as active consumers of travel, play a particularly significant role. They reject standardised, tourist-adapted destinations in favour of authenticity as an existential pursuit. Here, gastronomy ceases to be a mere complement and instead becomes the guiding thread of a deep immersion—where culinary storytelling, the origin of ingredients, gastronomic heritage, and direct contact with local people allow the visitor to feel genuinely part of the place.
Faced with the threats of globalisation and cultural homogenisation, gastronomic culture emerges as a powerful symbol of identity and resistance.
In this context, the work of the Asociación Patrimonio Gastronómico Protegido – APPG (Protected Gastronomic Heritage Association) is of vital importance, as it leads the way in certifying and safeguarding culinary heritage through concrete actions aimed at preserving diversity, strengthening sustainability, and consolidating each destination’s uniqueness.
Thanks to the Association’s commitment and vision, the protection of traditional culinary knowledge becomes a key tool to address present challenges and ensure its continuity into the future.
