The effects of tour guide performance and food involvement on food neophobia and local food consumption intention

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how food neophobia, food involvement, tour guide performance and intention of local food consumption impact each other. Design/methodology/approach A survey was performed with a sample of international tourists visiting Antalya, Turkey, and the data were used to test the proposed research model by means of structural equation modelling. Findings Results reflected a causal relationship among the examined constructs. Although tour guide performance had an insignificant effect on food neophobia, tourists’ food involvement negatively impacted and decreased neophobia. Originality/value This study is an exceptional contribution to the literature, as it empirically investigates the role of tour guides on tourists’ local food consumption behaviour.