Traditional Goan Hindu Cuisine As a Tourism Product and Soft Power: An Imaginary Shaped By the Organizational Field and Tourist Perceptions and Expectations
Rooted in ancient Hindu traditions and enriched by Islamic and Christian influences during periods of respective rule, Goan cuisine is central to its cultural appeal, resulting in a unique fusion of multicultural culinary practices. This paper examines traditional Hindu cuisine from a soft power perspective, exploring how tourists engage with and interpret its variety, and how their experiences contribute to the (re)production of an imagined cultural narrative, grounded in Goa's rich repertoire of gastronomic heritage. The issue of authenticity plays a major role in how the Goan community preserves the originality of Hindu cuisine and how this preservation impacts tourism flows.
The findings highlight how a timely and appropriate strategy, utilizing authentic Hindu cuisine, could serve as an alternative tourism product, specifically within the realm of “Gastronomy or Food Tourism,” to attract more visitors, enhance their engagement with Goa’s cultural and culinary heritage, and foster deeper connections, encouraging repeat visits. Regardless of future developments, as a form of soft power, Goa’s culinary heritage—mediated by the tourist gaze and global imaginaries—is framed by the organizational field (including private and public organizations), framing a delicate process to match these expectations (translating local meanings to the tourists values) at the same time they try to keep their authenticity.