Authenticity and experience in sustainable food tourism

Today tourists want to know and understand lifestyle and local traditions of the destinations. Therefore, tourist products must reflect the true local culture and must be authentic. The search for authenticity, identity of places, historical roots and, more generally, the need to move closer to lasting values in a changing world are consequences of the modern lifestyle, alienating and often ephemeral. The rediscovery of authenticity can be seen as a tool for sustainability. Attractions based on specific elements of the local way of life and traditions can, therefore, become, the core of a sustainable type of tourism. This represents basic values of the community, allowing their enhancement, especially if the involvement of the host community is high. It is an instrument that leads everybody but specially the younger generations to rediscovery and preserves forgotten forms of popular culture and traditions with the involvement of the host community. This is a prerequisite for the sustainability of tourism development. Besides, authenticity and involvement of residents can substantially increase the experiential value of the holiday, offering unique and unforgettable tourist experiences. In the chapter we will present some examples for sustainable food tourism in Italy, with particular reference to the authentic and experiential dimension.