Food tourism is an activity that can be promoted by destination marketers. The aims of this research are to provide a holistic examination of domestic tourists’ food experience in China, and to evaluate the potential of food tourism in promoting Chinese regions from the demand side. It has four specific research objectives, including (1) examining the food experience of domestic tourists at three different travel stages in China, (2) assessing the relationships between the food experience of tourists and their demographic profiles, (3) developing a structural model addressing the potential relationships between tourists’ food experience and loyalty intentions toward Chinese destinations, and (4) providing recommendations for marketers to achieve successful destination promotion through food tourism. In order to achieve the research aims and objectives, with the development of a structural theoretical model, a quantitative research design was employed in the study. Data was specifically collected from a sample of 1702 domestic tourists at ten representative destinations in Mainland China. The findings of this study revealed that: firstly, food is, overall, of great significance to Chinese domestic tourists; however, it plays a varying role in domestic tourists’ experiences at different travel stages in China. Secondly, demographic factors such as gender and age have influences on the food experience of Chinese domestic tourists, while educational level has been revealed to be of little influence. Thirdly, tourists’ food satisfaction and food-related behavioural intentions were in direct and positive correlation to tourists’ destination loyalty intentions. The findings highlighted the contribution of local food at a destination level in the context of China, and signified the great potential for destinations to utilise food tourism to attract and retain tourists. Moreover, given the interrelationships shown between the underlying factors of tourists’ food experience and tourists’ destination loyalty intentions, it is noted that tourists’ food experience is a complex multi-phase model among which different phases interrelate with each other exerting an influence on tourists’ loyalty intentions to specific destinations in China. Lastly, based on these findings, both theoretical and practical implications were derived. In particular, practical recommendations have been provided to marketers on how to effectively utilise food tourism to achieve successful destination promotion in China.

Со второй половины XX века всё большую значимость получает неценовая конкуренция, которая стала постепенно вытеснять ценовую. В такой же ситуации оказались и регионы, которые тоже имеют свою конкуренцию с другими территориями за туристический поток, приток квалифицированных рабочих, ученых, деятелей культуры и прочих людей, которые могут стимулировать социально-экономический рост региона. Правильные коммуникации создают желательную репутацию, которая зачастую является сильным преимуществом перед другими конкурентами, повышая стоимость продукта или услуги, или помогая потребителю в принятии решения по поводу путешествия или переезда именно в этот регион, а не в другой. Одними из новых и быстро развивающихся технологий, которые всё чаще используются в качестве инструментов продвижения территории, являются виртуальная и дополненная реальности. Всё больше менеджеров по продвижению региона начинают их осваивать, но при этом они до сих пор не являются распространёнными для этой области. В представленной работе отражены особенности использования инструментов виртуальной и дополненной реальностей в продвижении территории, проанализированы практика и результаты научных исследований в этой области. Основываясь на результатах методологической и эмпирической базы исследований, разработана коммуникативная программа продвижения Пермского края как региона с использованием инструментов виртуальной и дополненной реальностей. / Since the second half of the 20th century, non-price competition has become increasingly important, gradually replacing price competition. In the same situation, regions have also found themselves in competition with other territories for tourist flows, influx of skilled workers, scientists, cultural figures and other people who can stimulate the socio-economic growth of the region. The right communications create a desirable reputation, which is often a strong advantage over other competitors, adding value to a product or service, or helping the consumer decide to travel or relocate to that particular region rather than another. Virtual and augmented reality are some of the new and rapidly evolving technologies that are increasingly being used as tools to promote a territory. More and more promotional managers are beginning to master them, but they are still not common for this area. This paper reflects the peculiarities of virtual and augmented reality tools in territory promotion, analyses the practice and research results in this field. Based on the results of the methodological and empirical research base, a communication programme for the promotion of the Perm Territory as a region using virtual and augmented reality tools has been developed.