Olive Oil Digital Menu (OODM) Tool: Enriching the Olive Oil Tourism Experience

Abstract:

Modern tourists are increasingly seeking authentic, sensory, and co-creative experiences by immersing themselves in local cultures and actively participating in community traditions. The rise of globalization, facilitated by the Internet and other technologies, has made the travel research process easier, more interactive, and convenient. Recently, Olive Oil Tourism has garnered significant attention from entrepreneurs in tourism marketing, management, ICT (Information & Communication Technologies), gastronomy, and sensory experiences. Stakeholders have recognized that food can serve as a unique cultural differentiator and a symbol of national or regional identity. For many tourists, consuming local food provides the most genuine way to gain emotions and knowledge about the local culture, fostering a connection with the people and places they visit. However, small and medium-sized enterprises often struggle with self-promotion, lack of training, insufficient public engagement, and difficulty in attracting media attention (Goméz et al., 2015). According to Ibáñez & Vicente-Fernandes (2022), the use of online channels and a focus on in situ branding can help establish a distinctive business model that centers on the sensory experience. To support companies in delivering their experiences and selling products more attractively and interactively, we propose the Olive Oil Digital Menu (OODM). This tool enables olive oil companies to train their staff and present knowledge about their products and experiences in a more engaging and interactive manner.