An Ethnographic Enquiry Towards the Influences and Behaviour on Food Choices of Long-Term Tourists in Urban Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1344/ara.v11i1.33978Keywords:
Food Consumption Behaviour, Long-Term Tourists, Educational Tourist, International Students, Qualitative Research, EthnographyAbstract
Despite its importance, food habits of an individual in a foreign location has not received adequate attention in Asian research. Most of the previous studies were based in the US and Europe and focused on the students from a specific discipline (Greaney et al., 2009, LaCaille et al., 2011) or specific backgrounds (Nelson et al., 2009, Cluskey and Grobe 2009). Since the host culture is an important influence towards food consumption behaviour, this ethnographic study provides a unique, Malaysian perspective on international student’s food consumption patterns. The objective in this research was to ethnographically explore the food choice behaviour and influences on international students in private universities around Subang Jaya, Malaysia. Participant observation along with semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with the respondents.
The various emerging themes of the food consumption behaviour of international long-term education tourists included food neophilia, stress eating, convenience and health and the influences comprised of price, social networking sites, friends, and word of mouth. Difference in age between researcher and other international students along with the limitations of conducting semi-structured interviews were some of the major limitations. This research can help policymakers make informed choices regarding sustainable developmental and tourism marketing for similar long-term tourists. It can help sensitize local population on the challenges and issues faced by foreign students in a new country. Furthermore, this can help the F&B industry as well as the society get a deeper understanding on how to cater to foreign long-term tourists.
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