Purpose: The main objective of this research is to establish an integrated model of gastronomy tourism to help some of the main public and private stakeholders design strategies to improve tourists' gastronomic experience and satisfaction, taking gastronomic motivations as a starting point. Furthermore, the difference between destination satisfaction and gastronomic satisfaction has been established in order to determine the degree to which each one influences loyalty towards the destination.Design/methodology/approach: After detailing the theoretical framework for the development of the hypotheses, the study was carried out using a quantitative methodology based on structural equation modelling (SEM). The final sample consisted of 710 tourists who visited Córdoba, Spain – a world heritage city of international renown.Findings: Results indicate that gastronomic motivations, gastronomic experience and destination satisfaction have a direct influence on loyalty towards a destination. Also, destination satisfaction is found to play a mediating role in the relationship between gastronomic experience and loyalty towards the destination. Differences between destination and gastronomic satisfaction have been evidenced. For fostering a tourist's loyalty towards a destination, gastronomic satisfaction alone is not enough; other elements inherent to the destination itself are necessary for full loyalty, whether attitudinal or behavioural.Originality/value: Correctly identifying tourist motivations can help managers of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) to develop tailored marketing and communication campaigns that boost return visits to the destination or recommendations to family and friends. DMOs need to be aware that DMOs cannot overlook elements such as safety, hospitality or destination cleanliness at the expense of gastronomic satisfaction.

The rise of new tourist typologies as a result of the change in the motivations of tourists and the increasingly active awareness of the environment are making these new tourist activities more sustainable. The development of typologies such as oleotourism or, more globally, gastronomic tourism is formed as an engine of socio-economic development wherever it is inserted, being even more important and decisive if it develops in rural areas. This study is based on a model of structural equations based on minimum partial squares. A sample size of 414 surveys was used, all of which were collected in the oil mills and museums of the towns of Baena, Cabra, Luque and Montilla, all of which belong to the province of Córdoba, Spain. This study develops a model based on motivations and gastronomic experience resulting from the development of oleotourism in the rural areas of the province of Córdoba (Spain). Among the most noteworthy results it is worth highlighting the positive influence of motivations on the gastronomic experience of tourists. In addition, the predictive relevance of the model is demonstrated.

As the importance given by tourists to the different aspects of gastronomic tourism depends on their profiles, this research aims to determine the relationship between the social characteristics of these culinary tourists (such as gender, age, income, and educational level) and the relevance attributed by them to several opinions and attitudes related to gastronomic tourism. This research is based on field work through surveys filled in by culinary tourists with questions about perceptions and thoughts regarding gastronomic tourism both in general and in the particular case of Córdoba, a World Heritage Site in Southern Spain. Using artificial intelligence techniques as the Multilayer Perceptron, an artificial neural network is developed to estimate a ‘tourist profile’ based on inputs which are the pre-determined replies to the questionnaire. This technique is rarely used in surveys, especially in tourism sector. The model developed can assess the variations produced along the item valuation in every characteristic of the tourist profile. Thus, an increase in age implies more appreciation for dishes variety, its tasting at destination and willingness to return. Findings presented can be useful for professionals and entrepreneurs dedicated to culinary experiences and for public institutions which aim to promote gastronomic tourism at destination.

El oleoturismo se desarrolla en el medio rural donde se refleja una determinada cultura en relación con el aceite de oliva. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar el perfil sociodemográfico, las actividades, las motivaciones, las valoraciones y los niveles de satisfacción que tienen con el viaje los oleoturistas en varias zonas geográficas de Andalucía. Para ello se realizan encuestas a la demanda. Los resultados muestran que destacan visitantes de 60 o más años, con una renta media-alta, estudios universitarios y extranjeros. Las motivaciones son visitar la zona geográfica, aprender sobre el mundo del aceite y comer y beber productos de la zona. Lo más valorado es la hospitalidad y la conservación del entorno. La mayoría están satisfechos con el viaje realizado.