This paper aims to examine the challenges and opportunities in safeguarding Malaysian gastronomic tourism products through the lens of digital online platforms to educate food producers and tourists on the importance of safeguarding the local food heritage. By employing a qualitative approach of in-depth interviews with nine participants from three different categories including local tourists, hospitality and tourism lecturers, and hospitality industry experts, the results revealed that the digital divide, regulatory compliances, cultural and social, and authenticity, consistency and sustainability concerns are the challenges that the Malaysian gastronomic tourism industry is confronting in protecting local food products and culture through the use of digital online platforms. Additionally, the opportunities of employing digital online platforms in preserving Malaysian gastronomic tourism products were highlighted and this includes enhancing online presence and promotion through digital marketing, creating experiences through virtual tours and gastronomic tourism packages, and encouraging community engagement and sustainability practices. This research benefits both tourism scholars and related industry practitioners in filling the knowledge gap of understanding the pivotal role of the available digital online platforms to better understand, plan and develop strategies in safeguarding Malaysian gastronomic tourism products.
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