Short form videos impact the way tourists perceive culinary experiences in Lisbon. As cities progressively embrace food tourism, these videos are accountable for shaping tourists' perceptions and decisions. Despite extensive studies on their addiction, their exponential growth post-Covid-19 and utility as research tools, remain understudied, prompting this research. This study aims to determine how the phenomenon impacts tourists' culinary experiences and choices in Lisbon and how they are linked to authenticity.
Based on qualitative methods, the study used semi-structured interviews to untie the complex dynamics between short form videos and food exploration in Lisbon. Three central themes emerged: the impact of social media, the perception of authenticity and influenced experiences. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were revealed to be dominant and critical research tools, influencing tourists' initial interests, expectations and decision-making. The research focuses on the evolving tourist gaze by balancing between curated experiences and spontaneous discovery.
Tourists anticipate their perception of authenticity with aesthetically pleasing imagery and narratives from short form videos. Moreover, the interaction between shared experiences and eWOM guides tourists towards specific choices. Additionally, visitors aim to feel like a local and connect with genuine and unique food experiences. Furthermore, scepticism was mentioned by participants indicating a complex relationship between online influence and genuine experiences. In conclusion, the paper shows the significant influence of social media and short form videos on
tourist's decisions and perceptions. The digital gaze prompts a re-calibration of the balance connecting curated experiences and authenticity, challenging the reliability of the algorithm on the platforms.
The phenomena offer potential application to other cities, providing favourable grounds for comparative studies. This paper contributes to a distinct understanding of the interconnection between online content and authentic experiences in the progressive gastronomic tourism landscape.
Keywords: Lisbon, experiences, authenticity, short form video, food tourism

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