The Formation of Destination's Digital Tourism Ecosystem in the Sphere of Local Gastronomy

Tourism is one of the most popular sphere of application of digital ecosystems. The question of its formation attracts a growing number of foreign researchers. Gastronomy has not been considered yet as one of the most important tourism component in the theory of digital tourism ecosystems (DTE) in the scientific literature. Formation of DTE in St. Petersburg is just beginning, therefore the study of the essence and principles of its functioning (both in tourism and in its components) has a practical importance. The main aim of the research is formation of destination’s DTE. The goals of the study are: to systematize approaches to DTE’s study, to consider it as a destination-marketing tool; to design a model of DTE with local gastronomy aspect; to highlight actors that take part in DTE formation in local gastronomy sphere; to give recommendations for interaction strategies of key organizations that are interested in formation of the city’s digital ecosystem. The first part of the study is dedicated to digital ecosystems’ theory development. As a result of theory analysis method, designing the model of DTE with local gastronomy aspect was made for a first time. The second part of the study is an empirical research of local gastronomy subjects at the DTE of St. Petersburg. The empirical base of the research includes web sites of city’s and gastronomy portals and attractive for tourist restaurants of St. Petersburg. As a result, on the example of St. Petersburg the categories of DTE’s stakeholders were identified and described. The result of research offers recommendations for communications of organizations in order to create an optimal DTE of destination. It could be implemented on the level of destination marketing organization or on the level of gastronomy organizations of St. Petersburg or other territories.