Principles of organizing gastronomic destinations: the case of Melitopol municipal district

The article studies the creation of Melitopol gastronomic brand in Zaporozhye oblast. Until recently, tourists visiting the Northern Azov region, understood gastronomic tourism as part of cultural, educational, health, sports and other types of tourism. The article examines the main factors influencing the creating of gastronomic destinations, studies and substantiates culture, traditions, production, local cuisine, gastronomic events as the base of the gastrotourism potential and resource base of the Melitopol municipal district. The authors consider the places in the Melitopol district where tourists can experience authentic local cuisine based on case-study of craft gastronomic facilities assemble to visiting them and tasting their products. The authors identify promising gastronomic tourist sites, that can contribute to the formation of a gastronomic brand and a positive image of Melitopol tourist destination in future within the boundaries of the Azov Basin tourist macroregion, the emergence of which we can observe today.