Gastro Local: developing authentic gastronomy experiences in rural areas to spread tourists
About this good practice
Gastro Local started as a local initiative by an NGO, aiming at offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy a meal prepared with traditional Romanian products and served at local households in rural areas, in a rustic atmosphere, but in compliance with the hygienic standards imposed by law. The initiative has now grown to a national level, although it initially emerged from the need to offer tourists visiting Vama Buzaului Commune, located in the Brasov Metropolitan Area, an authentic culinary experience to both local and international visitors.
The practice is implemented through the establishment of Local Gastronomic Points, where private households serve traditional meals made primarily from locally sourced ingredients. The concept encourages sustainable practices, supports local producers, and builds community around rural gastronomy. Furthermore, local authority of Vama Buzaului made all the necessary steps so that the commune could be connected to the municipality of Brasov by metropolitan public transport, offering an opportunity to effectively spread tourist from Brasov city centre towards more rural area, facilitating a more balanced tourism development in the region.
The main stakeholders involved in this practice include local households, agricultural producers and public authorities. Beneficiaries are tourists seeking authentic gastronomic experiences, as well as residents who benefit from business opportunities created by increasing visitors.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
Local communities utilise resources that are part of the local cultural heritage, such as local households expertise in traditional cooking. An important resource was also the support from public authorities (e.g. investments in public transport connections with Brasov).
Evidence of success
Gastro Local is successfully attracting tourists seeking traditional and authentic dining experiences. This provides more business opportunities to the community in Vama Buzaului and helps in reducing overcrowding of the city centre of Brasov during weekends. As such, it also represents a good practice in effectively spreading tourist from more crowded areas (e.g. Brasov city centre) towards less visited areas, facilitating a more balanced tourism development in the region.
Potential for learning or transfer
Gastro Local is an exemplary model for other rural areas seeking to enhance tourism through culinary experiences. The initiative shows that with local government support and community participation, rural areas can capitalize on traditional gastronomy to create unique tourist attractions. More crowded destinations can also learn from this practice, as it represents a good example of a strategy to spread tourism from more crowded areas to less visited places, fostering a more balanced tourism development in the entire region. Key success factors to consider when replicating such initiative include local community engagement from the beginning, public role in accessibility development towards less visited areas, and proximity to major tourist centres form where visitors can be attracted.
Further information
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Good practice owner
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