Effect of Tourism Pressure on the Mediterranean Diet Pattern

Abstract

Despite proposed conceptual frameworks of eating behaviors, little is known about environmental factors contributing to changes in food habits. Few studies have reported the external influence of tourism on the inhabitants’ eating patterns. The present study aimed to investigate whether tourism pressure affects Canary Islands inhabitants’ adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern. Data were obtained from a health and lifestyle population-based survey conducted in 2009 and 2015. From the reported intake frequency, a Mediterranean diet score was defined (0 to 11 points). Tourist overnight stays, which were stratified by nationality and area of destination, were used as a proxy variable to measure tourism pressure. A multilevel linear regression analysis by restricted maximum likelihood estimation was performed to examine the relationship between tourism pressure and the Mediterranean diet score. A significant negative association between the Mediterranean diet score and British tourism pressure was observed (β = −0.0064, p = 0.010), whereas German tourism pressure increased inhabitants’ adherence (β = 0.0092, p = 0.042). The socioeconomic level of tourists seems to play a role in differences in the tourism pressure effect by nationality. Further investigation of other highly touristic destinations is needed to confirm these findings that could contribute to a shift in tourism and public health nutrition policies.

Food consumption in the Canary Islands: nutritional implications of food imports and local production

“…The most important difference corresponds to fats, which according to the records represent almost 150 g of daily intake per person, while estimates derived from questionnaires would place this intake at around half. In addition to the possibility of underestimation in consumption claims of oils and other fats in the questionnaires, it is likely that the consumption estimated from data on production and trade are also biased by the different consumption patterns of tourists [ 21 ]. In fact, as Table 5 shows, according to these records oils and fats have a relative weight in the caloric intake much higher than that observed in the questionnaires.…”

“…In fact, it adds an element of heterogeneity, because the tourist eating habits during their holiday may differ from their usual pattern. Moreover, this usual pattern in their places of origin may also differ from the habits of the Canary Islands’ population [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Perceções de utilização do conceito de Dieta Mediterrânica, potencial utilização indevida e perspetivas a explorar = Perceptions of use of the concept of Mediterranean diet, potential misuse and prospects to explore

“…Estudos recentes efetuados na zona do Mediterrâneo mostram que o turismo pode ser uma forma de alavancar e promover as heranças culturais intangíveis das regiões, verificando-se vantagens para os vários intervenientes na equação, como os turistas, os hoteleiros, as comunidades locais e a indústria turística (Sotiriadis, 2017). Todavia, será igualmente importante monitorizar, e eventualmente regular, esta componente uma vez que um crescimento turístico não acompanhado poderá desvirtuar os hábitos alimentares da população residente, caso se adeque a oferta gastronómica às preferências dos turistas (Rodriguez-Mireles et al, 2018), podendo até conduzir a situações de utilização indevida do conceito de Dieta Mediterrânica.Será ainda importante acautelar que a vertente turística seja um meio de partilha das componentes culturais da Dieta Mediterrânica a quem visita esta zona e não uma forma de as deteriorar.…”