Exploring tourists memorable food experiences : a study of visitors to Santa's official hometown 6
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ABSTRACT : The present study was undertaken with the purpose of understanding what makes a memorable food experience (MFE) for tourists. Twenty - two interviews were carried out with a sample of tourists who visited Rovaniemi, Finland. Using grounded theory as a data analytic approach, this paper proposes a conceptual framework of MFE, which is comprised of a number of key components: local specialities and food attributes (taste), authencity, novelty, togetherness and social interaction, hospitality, and servicescape including food souvenirs. The implications for managers are that service providers should offer local specialities; give tasty , novel and auntentic food experiences; encourage social interaction, hospitality, and servicescape including food souvenirs. The implications for managers are that service providers should offer local spaecialities, give tasty , novel and authentic food experiences' encourage social interactions between tourists and the service provider; offer warm and welcoming hospitality; focus on the servicescape; and serve food (including food souvenirs) on wooden plates and in wooden cups.