Did you know that more than half of travelers worldwide consider themselves food tourists? Developed within the BASCIL project (Innovative Solutions for the Rural Food Production Sector to Diversify into Sustainable Culinary Tourism Services), this practical guide invites local food producers, farmers, and small business owners to discover the potential of culinary tourism - not only to increase income but also to create authentic and memorable experiences for their guests. This manual offers hands-on support for those looking to step beyond the product economy into the experience economy.
The guide outlines concrete steps for developing culinary experiences - from shaping your business model and understanding your target customers to pricing and marketing strategies. Special attention is given to the Business Model Canvas tool, which helps to structure ideas and assess their feasibility. Real-life success stories and pilot project results demonstrate that even the smallest farms can become attractive destinations for gastronomic tourism.
You will also find ideas on how to work with seasonality, what kinds of experiences to offer (from tastings and cooking workshops to educational tours and virtual experiences), and how to prepare to welcome guests - both physically and emotionally. The guide covers how to strengthen your brand, build local partnerships, and use social media and digital tools to share your story with a broader audience.
This publication is not just a theoretical resource – it is a practical roadmap tailored to the realities of the Baltic Sea region. Created through collaboration between experts from Lithuania, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Norway, Latvia, and Estonia, the guide invites you to download it and start crafting your own unique story of flavor!
More information about the project:
https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/bascil/
The project is implemented by:
Dr. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė (project manager in Lithuania), tel. (+370 5) 2617 978, e-mail zivile.gedminaite@ekvi.lt;
Dr. Rita Lankauskienė, e-mail rita.lankauskiene@ekvi.lt;
Dr. Vitalija Simonaitytė, e-mail vitalija.simonaityte@ekvi.lt.
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