Regional Wine and Beverage Tourism: Social and Economic Development Perspectives

Wine and beverage tourism has emerged as a significant driver of social and economic development in regions traditionally not associated with this market, such as South America, Oceania, North America, and to a lesser extent, Africa and Asia. This burgeoning sector has seen the introduction of diverse products, including new wine styles, boutique spirits, craft beers, and non-alcoholic alternatives, alongside tea and coffee innovations. These developments have not only enriched the culinary landscape but have also fostered the growth of beverage trails, complementing existing food trails. The integration of these products into established gourmet trails has created new regional tourism opportunities, offering substantial social and economic benefits to local communities. Despite this growth, there remains a need to explore how these niche and boutique products can be effectively promoted to enhance local investment and development, particularly in regional areas. Current research highlights the potential for these products to drive regional tourism, yet there is a gap in understanding the mechanisms through which they can be leveraged for broader social and economic gains.

This research topic aims to explore the potential of niche and boutique wine and beverage products in promoting regional tourism and fostering social and economic development. The primary objective is to address the growing demand for these products and examine how they can be utilized to attract investment and tourism in regional areas. Key questions include identifying the 'push-pull' factors that can draw tourists to these regions and understanding the role of new products, services, and facilities in this process. The research will also investigate the impact of government and private sector investment in enhancing regional tourism and the resultant social and economic benefits.

To gather further insights into the dynamics of regional wine and beverage tourism, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The role of wine, craft beer, tea, coffee, and spirits in regional tourism
• The impact of non-alcoholic beverage options on tourism development
• Wine and beverage festivals and events as catalysts for regional growth
• Distribution channels and their influence on regional tourism
• Contributions of individual stakeholders and new facilities to the tourism sector
• Comparative analyses of regional areas and food and beverage trails
• The social and economic value added by wine and beverage tourism
• Strategies for promoting regional areas through wine and beverage tourism.

Keywords: Wine and Beverage Tourism, Regional development, Responsible consumption, Economic and Social Benefits, Sustainable Tourism

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.