The Relationship Between Local Food Consumption Motivation and Destination Image: The Case of Şanlıurfa

Food is not only a physiological need; it also plays a significant role in the formation of cultural identity, social belonging, and economic structures. Local foods play a strategic role in the identification and differentiation of destinations, and stand out among tourists' travel motivations. This study aims to examine the relationship between motivation for consuming local food and destination image. The study focuses on Şanlıurfa province, with its rich gastronomic heritage. Şanlıurfa cuisine, with its historical background, geographical features, and multicultural structure, demonstrates the cultural heritage quality of local dishes. A quantitative research design was adopted, and a questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to measure the relationships between the variables included in the study. The analysis results showed a significant and positive correlation between motivation for consuming local food and destination image. Keywords: Local food, motivation, destination image