Are tourists revisiting for the taste? Exploring local cuisine's influence on sustainable tourism in the Western Indian Himalayas

This study investigates the influence of local food on various dimensions of sustainable tourism and revisit intentions of tourists. The respondents of the study are tourists visiting the Western Himalayan area of India, specifically main tourist attractions of Himachal Pradesh. This study utilises a non-probability sampling method. The present study encompasses a sample of 250 tourists visiting several tourist spots in Himachal Pradesh. We utilised a structured questionnaire, derived from existing research, to gather primary data. The research examines the interconnections among the different variables using Smart PLS. The study's findings demonstrate that the consumption of local food significantly enhances sociocultural, economic, and environmental sustainability, while also affecting traveller intentions. Acquaintance with culinary locales substantially improves economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In contrast to previous studies, the intentions to revisit were not significantly affected by familiarity with culinary places.