Exploring Dining Experiences Among Tourists with Diabetes

This study explores the dining experiences of tourists with diabetes across affective, behavioral, and sensory dimensions. Despite being encouraged to eat healthily while traveling, they often choose unhealthy options despite nutritious alternatives. Research on their food-related decisions during trips remains limited. Using goal-framing theory, interviews with 28 tourists with diabetes revealed three primary eating goals (normative, hedonic, and gain), each with two sub-goals that interact with the focal goal. The findings provide a holistic understanding of their dining experiences and offer practical insights for tourism destinations, restaurants, and travel agencies to better cater to guests with special dietary needs.