Food tourists social interactions: A social capital and social learning perspective

Research has often considered the attitudinal and behavioral consequences of social interaction. However, there is a paucity of studies on how the social capital of tourists influences the nature of social interactions. Using a social capital perspective and social learning theory with a phenomenological approach based on two sets of interviews with food tourists, we develop a conceptual framework demonstrating the influence of social capital on tourist social interactions. We find that based on their level of social capital, tourists socialize in four different ways: (1) strengthening sense of belonging; (2) learning and sharing knowledge; (3) spending quality time; and (4) nurturing temporal friendship. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the study.