The World Food Travel Association announced on March 18, 2025, that Francesc Fusté-Forné has been awarded its prestigious Food Tourism Industry Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates individuals whose work has significantly advanced the food and beverage tourism sector.
Since its introduction in 2021, the honor has been reserved for those who demonstrate unparalleled dedication, leadership, and influence within the industry. Nominees are selected by peers and evaluated by a panel of WFTA leaders and industry experts who ensure that only the most deserving are recognized.
Francesc Fusté-Forné, from Catalonia, Spain, is an Associate Professor Serra Húnter at the University of Girona and a widely respected researcher in food tourism. His work emphasizes topics such as authenticity, heritage, rural marketing, and the pivotal intersection between gastronomy and identity. With dual doctorates—one in Tourism from the University of Girona and another in Communication from Ramon Llull University—he has spent years exploring food tourism’s relationship to landscapes, sustainability, and social dynamics.
Achievements That Shaped the Industry
Dr. Fusté-Forné’s academic and professional contributions have left a lasting impact:
- Co-editor of influential works like Contemporary Advances in Food Tourism Management and Marketing (2023) and The Food Tourist (2025).
- Recognized in 2024 as one of the top 2% of the world’s most influential researchers by Stanford University and Elsevier.
- Awarded the Outstanding Article prize by the Emerald Literati Awards in 2024 for research on Generation Z’s sustainable approaches to food tourism.
The combination of in-depth research and published work has elevated his reputation, not only in academic circles but also within the broader tourism industry. His findings have shaped how food tourism is understood and applied in marketing and development strategies worldwide.
Why This Award Matters
His tireless efforts to examine food tourism through the lenses of culture, sustainability, and social impact have been praised widely.
Erik Wolf, Executive Director and Founder of the World Food Travel Association, stated, “Francesc Fusté-Forné’s groundbreaking research and dedication to understanding food tourism’s role in culture, sustainability, and media make him an exemplary recipient of this award. His work continues to inspire and shape the future of food tourism worldwide.”
The Food Tourism Industry Lifetime Achievement Award not only acknowledges Dr. Fusté-Forné’s decades of dedication but also highlights the increasing importance of food tourism in preserving cultural heritage and adapting to sustainable tourism trends. Those within the industry stand to benefit from the work of leaders like him.
