Resumen

GOMEZ DE LUNAR, Vicdalia. GASTRONOMÍA Y DULCERÍA TÍPICA: LA “AREPA DE VIEJA”, COMO ATRACTIVO TURÍSTICO DEL ESTADO NUEVA ESPARTA, VENEZUELA. Gest. tur. (Valdivia), jun. 2008, no.9, p.61-86. ISSN 0718-6428.

The present situation of “Arepa de Vieja” as a touristic attraction at the Arismendi municipality, in the state of Nueva Esparta is diagnosed in this paper through a descriptive and field study. The information was gathered through personnal interviews with the inducers of the families that prepare the pastry for more than 200 years, it is prepared once every year at the family call. Taking into consideration the transcendence of the “Arepa de Vieja” due to its incorporation in the virgin del Valle’s local festivity; the conservation, preservation, and divulge of the knowledge of this pastry through educational, touristic and cultural means is necessary, as well as its incorporation in the tourism inventory.

Palabras Clave: Typical pastry; knowledge; cultural tourism; typical gastronomy; Arepa de Vieja (old lady corn bread).