The Importance of Gastro Public Relations in Turkey

Food is a means of communication. It is a tool for the transmission of a thought, an emotion and even a culture. While the relationship between human and food from past to present is based on meeting a biological need, the change in the process of providing food over time, the invention of fire, the beginning of cooking food and the need for various tools while cooking, and the change in the way food is consumed and the behavior patterns that emerge accordingly, eating with humans It has taken the relationship between us out of a biological need only and assumed the identity of a cultural interaction. This relationship and cultural accumulation that people establish with food and the table has begun to be examined in fields such as anthropology, communication, literature, sociology and cultural studies. Although the history of food and beverages goes back to ancient times, it is possible to say that the concept of gastronomy is a new and developing concept. From a diplomatic perspective, gastro diplomacy activities are not only carried out by the state; it is seen today that different institutions and organizations operating in this field are also actively involved. The fact that public relations in the field of communication focuses on gastronomy reveals the importance of gastro public relations. Today, it is possible to define the promotional activities of brands, non-governmental organisations and even the relevant departments of universities through food, cuisine, food products and services as gastro public relations. Today, social media has also become an important tool in all areas of promotion and communication. Content and comments that affect individuals' decision-making processes positively or negatively exist on social media platforms. In this context, food festivals and promotional activities organised by companies, institutions, municipalities and universities can be given as examples. This study aims to examine the public relations strategies used in food festivals in Turkey by revealing the activities of public relations in the field of gastronomy.