The Challenge

European gastronomy tourism is a treasure trove of culinary heritage and artisanal excellence. Yet, this rich tapestry of local food cultures remains fragmented, isolated by weak route governance and digital invisibility. We face a critical juncture where sustainable mobility and territorial storytelling must converge to create market-ready ecosystems that honor our landscapes.

Fragmented Destination Assets

While many territories boast strong food cultures and SMEs, these assets are often siloed. Without coherent governance, they remain under-visited and fail to leverage their full potential for sustainable economic growth.

Over-Tourism & Low-Impact Needs

The pressure on saturated hotspots demands a shift toward low-impact travel. GASTROTOUR addresses this by prioritizing cycling and walking networks that distribute visitor pressure and promote authentic local spending.

Living Lab Innovation Gap

Traditional tourism models struggle with experiential depth. We bridge this gap by integrating Living Lab experimentation, facilitating co-creation between SMEs and visitors for immersive, story-rich experiences.

The Solution: 5-Step Route Creation Methodology

GASTROTOUR transforms fragmented gastronomy tourism into a scalable European ecosystem through a rigorous, immersive methodology.

Territorial Gastronomy Mapping

Deep-dive analysis of local food systems, heritage, and SME assets to identify core gastronomy assets.

Experience Co-Creation

Living Lab workshops with local communities and SMEs to design authentic, immersive mobility experiences.

Route Prototyping

Physical and digital prototyping of routes integrating sustainable mobility and experiential storytelling.

Digitalisation

Development of AI-supported digital infrastructure for route discovery and sustainable visitor engagement.

Market Activation

Scaling the ecosystem through destination governance and SME-led territorial activation.

Pilot Ecosystems

Transnational Living Lab demonstration sites connecting culinary heritage with sustainable mobility.

France — Seine-Saint-Denis Tourisme

Seine-Saint-Denis Tourisme + Rosa Lab

Focus on multicultural gastronomy, metropolitan food culture, territorial storytelling, and participatory urban tourism.

Spain — Mediterranean Gastronomy Ecosystem

Saborea España + University of Barcelona / Alimara Living Lab

Focus on Mediterranean gastronomy, culinary heritage, experiential tourism, and destination cooperation.

Finland — Northern Sustainable Tourism

Ecofellows Ltd. + Tampere University of Applied Sciences / Lake Trails Living Lab

Focus on nature-based gastronomy, cycling tourism, slow mobility, and sustainability in the Northern landscapes.

Hungary — ÓNTE Heritage & Gastronomy

World Gastronomy Network Kft. + Ópusztaszer National Heritage Park + Sustainnovation Hub Cluster

Presenting ÓNTE as a heritage-based gastronomy and cultural experience ecosystem, connecting heritage and community-based tourism.

The GASTROTOUR Consortium

A transnational network of innovation partners, destination managers, and academic institutions driving the future of sustainable gastronomy mobility.

World Gastronomy Network Kft.

Coordinator of GASTROTOUR and ecosystem orchestrator, responsible for transnational coordination, gastronomy tourism innovation and route ecosystem development.

ÓNTE Heritage & Gastronomy Experience Ecosystem

Heritage and gastronomy experience ecosystem demonstration site, connected to cultural storytelling, community tourism and immersive visitor experiences.

Sustainnovation Hub Cluster

Collaborating partner supporting sustainable innovation, transnational ecosystem building and Living Lab-oriented cooperation.

Euromontana

Business Support Organisation contributing European territorial development, rural resilience, policy alignment and dissemination expertise.

Smart Agro Hub

Business Support Organisation contributing agro-tourism, sustainable food systems, SME support and innovation ecosystem development expertise.

Saborea España

Destination Management Organisation focusing on gastronomy tourism destinations, Mediterranean culinary identity and destination cooperation.

Alimara Living Lab

Living Lab and tourism innovation partner supporting co-creation, experiential tourism design and gastronomy tourism experimentation.

Ecofellows Ltd.

Destination and sustainability ecosystem partner supporting sustainable regional tourism, low-impact mobility and climate-conscious tourism development.

Lake Trails Living Lab

Living Lab partner supporting stakeholder experimentation, lake-based tourism innovation, cycling tourism and sustainable visitor experiences.

Seine-Saint-Denis Tourisme

Destination Management Organisation leading the Grand Paris pilot ecosystem with expertise in destination governance, thematic tourism and territorial storytelling.

Rosa Lab

Living Lab and urban innovation partner supporting co-creation, participatory tourism, social innovation and metropolitan gastronomy experimentation.

The Digital Infrastructure of Gastronomy Mobility

Empowering the future of European gastronomy through immersive digital ecosystems and AI-driven route discovery.

Route Discovery

AI-Optimized Pathfinding

Storytelling

Immersive Narratives

SME Visibility

Local Producer Portal

Engagement

Interactive Maps

Recommendations

Sustainable Mobility

Experience

Living Lab Integration

The Pillars of Sustainable Impact

GASTROTOUR is designed to create a measurable and lasting transformation across the European gastronomy landscape.

Economic Sustainability

Supporting local SMEs and producers
Increasing destination visibility and spending
Encouraging longer stays and authentic engagement

Governance Sustainability

Strengthening territorial tourism governance
Facilitating stakeholder coordination and innovation
Ensuring policy alignment and regional resilience

Digital Sustainability

AI-supported route discovery and recommendations
Scalable digital mapping infrastructure
Enhanced visitor engagement and storytelling

Community Sustainability

Empowering local communities through tourism
Supporting social innovation and participatory urbanism
Preserving cultural heritage and local identity

Environmental Sustainability

Reducing pressure on saturated hotspots
Supporting low-impact travel through cycling and walking
Integrating local food systems and circular economy

Project Status

The GASTROTOUR consortium has been established.

The European project proposal is currently being prepared for submission.

Pilot ecosystems and Living Lab cooperation structures are being developed.

The initiative aims to become a scalable European model for sustainable gastronomy mobility ecosystems.

Discover Europe Through Sustainable Gastronomy Journeys

MEET THE CONSORTIUM

GASTROTOUR is a transnational European initiative creating immersive gastronomy mobility ecosystems that connect local food cultures, sustainable tourism, Living Labs and tourism SMEs.