Analysis of the Development Path of Hainan’s Food Tourism Empowered by Digital Technology

Abstract

Abstract Against the backdrop of deep integration between culture and tourism, dining consumption has become an increasingly significant component of overall tourism expenditure. Cuisine is no longer merely a supplementary service to tourism but has evolved into a core element of destination marketing and competitiveness. As a pillar industry of the Hainan Free Trade Port, tourism—guided by the province’s consumption revitalization policies—has embraced the demand for diversified culinary experiences. Leveraging Hainan’s cultural, technological, and institutional advantages provides a strong foundation for the digital transformation of its culinary tourism. However, current challenges persist, including limited innovation in online promotion of food culture, shallow application of digital technologies, and insufficient integration of smart tourism systems. To address these issues, this study identifies a three-tiered market segmentation strategy—mass, mid-range, and high-end—to ensure the alignment of technological investment with market specialization, thereby optimizing Hainan’s culinary consumption ecosystem. Strategies include establishing a digital knowledge base of Hainan’s food culture, developing immersive VR/AR culinary scenarios, issuing digital collectibles, and implementing gamified marketing to attract online engagement. Moreover, by capitalizing on Generation Z’s growing preference for healthy and social consumption patterns, culinary tourism can achieve stronger social dissemination. The functions of existing digital platforms such as “e-Travel Hainan” and “Safe Travel Hainan” should also be enhanced through blockchain-based “one enterprise, one record, one code” traceability and sandbox supervision mechanisms to ensure safety and transparency. Data-driven precision recommendations and coordinated services can further promote industrial upgrading and sustainable development of Hainan’s culinary tourism.