Zaječar District: Stakeholder perspectives on local food integration into the hospitality sector

This dataset contains transcripts of semi-structured interviews conducted with relevant local stakeholders within the RUSTIK project. Interviewees represent various institutions, including representatives of local authorities, Local Action Groups (LAGs), local tourism organisations, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) and related institutions. The interviews were carried out following workshops where research results on the availability and use of local food products in hospitality establishments were presented. The aim of the interviews was to collect opinions on: the relevance and usability of the collected data, the validity and interpretation of research conclusions, possibilities for integrating local agricultural products into hospitality offerings, barriers to improved collaboration between producers and hospitality businesses. Each interview lasted up to 30 minutes and follows clearly defined thematic sections, with additional probing questions where needed. The findings confirm previously identified supply chain challenges while highlighting additional structural and relational barriers, such as: low levels of trust between actors, perceived unreliability of supply, lack of institutional coordination and support mechanisms.