GASTRONOMÍA LOCAL: IDENTIDAD CULTURAL Y COHESIÓN SOCIAL EN LA CAMPIÑA DE MOCHE, PERÚ

This study stems from an interest in promoting actions to strengthen sustainable, inclusive economic growth and decent employment through the revaluation of gastronomic heritage as an element of cultural identity, social cohesion, and as a factor for the development of tourism; n this case, the setting is the Campiña de Moche (Moche Countryside) in the province of Trujillo, in La Libertad region, Peru. The overall objective was to analyze, based on scientific evidence, trends, information gaps, and proposals regarding the contribution of gastronomic heritage to the sustainable development of cultural tourism. A systematic review was conducted under the PRISMA protocol, using inclusion criteria such as articles published between 2020 and 2024, databases, keywords and thematic focus, research designs, and language. The study population included research that explored the relationship among gastronomic heritage, sustainable tourism, and rural development. The main results showed that local gastronomy strengthens cultural identity, increases tourist satisfaction, and promotes social cohesion. It was concluded that the integration of public policies and innovation in gastronomic products are key to maximizing the impact of sustainable tourism in culturally rich destinations such as Moche.