Food, Authenticity and Travel: A Study of Students Traveling to China for the First Time

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze and recognize how the first time traveler's perception of authenticity, based on the local cuisine and encounters with staged authenticity, affect their overall perception of the experience itself. The research question was what role does food play in participants' construction of an authentic travel experience during their first trip to China? Qualitative methods of pre-and post-trip focus groups coupled with participant observation were used. The study found that participants' view of authenticity changed throughout the study. This change occurred through relationships participants established with the local population, allowing them to experience back regions of authenticity through personal experience. This research is important for college and university study abroad programs to help students take away more from their traveling experiences.