Tasting Kirklareli̇: Stakeholder Perceptions of a Proposed Tasting Ceremony for Hardali̇ye, Kirklareli̇ White Cheese, and Kirklareli̇ Aged Kashar Cheese

Regional gastronomic experiences are one of the key elements that enhance destination attractiveness (Yaşar and Tekeler, 2023).This study examines the contribution of tasting ceremonies featuring Kırklareli's geographically indicated products -Kırklareli Hardaliyesi, Kırklareli White Cheese, and Kırklareli Aged Kashar Cheese -to gastronomic tourism through semi-structured interviews with 10 sector stakeholders determined by purposeful sampling and thematic analysis.The research findings suggest that stakeholders perceive hardaliye, in particular, as offering a strong alternative to wine tasting through its 'non-alcoholic wine' -a participant-generated characterizationidentity, and that this ceremony could strengthen the destination image and hold niche marketing potential.It is further suggested that overcoming structural problems such as inadequacies in geographical indication controls and 'geographical indication inflation', and integrating these ceremonies into existing tourism packages, could be perceived by stakeholders as offering competitive and regional development potential for Kırklareli, an outcome not directly measured in this study.