FPE 3253 :

AGRIBUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

AGROTOURISM OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRIBUSINESS

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Definition of Agrotourism

Collaborations between tourism and agriculture.

Visitor go to travelling as tourist to enjoy, relaxation, spend time and money for enjoyable and happiness.

At the same time is to visit agricultural area, doing activities related agricultural activities such as harvesting, planting and fishing.

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Reynolds (2005) mentions that agrotourism is businesses conducted by farmers whose working agricultural operations for the enjoyment and education of visitors.

Agrotourism presents the potential generating farm revenues and increasing profitability.

Additionally, visitors of agrotourism contact directly with farmers and support the increase of agriculture products indirectly.

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According to WTO (2003), that agrotourism is part of rural tourism and relates to tourism on farms. It gives farmers options to expand their activities and receive more income.

In some areas and countries, agrotourism forms a large part of rural tourism as a whole.

The example of agrotourism in Malaysia

Kampung Sungai Sireh, Tg. Karang, Selangor

Taman Pertanian Malaysia, Selangor

Ladang Nipah Kipli, Kuala Sangklang, Perlis

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Kampung Sungai Sireh Homestay, Tg. Karang, Selangor

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Concept of Agrotourism

The concept of agrotourism is a direct expansion of ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience agricultural life at first hand.

Visitors have the opportunity to work in the fields alongside real farmers and wade knee-deep in the sea with fishermen hauling in their nets.

Agritourism may be any form of farm-based tourism operation that provides economic benefit to the farm owner(s) and provides on-farm entertainment, activity, or product for the visitor.

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Type of Tourism

Economy- Retailing Tourism

Religion- Spiritual Tourism

Agriculture, Cultural , Geography Related Rural Tourism and Agrotourism

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Potential of Agrotourism in Malaysia

Uniqness in Culture

Accessibilities

Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Agriculture Activities

Support from Government

Attraction Places

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Contribution through Agrotourism

It educates people or society about agriculture and contribute to local economic.

It decrease the flood of urbanization as people are able to get jobs and earnings from agrotourism.

It promotes local products, regional in marketing effort and create value added. At the same time to stimulate economic activity as well as give benefit to society where agrotourism is developed.

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Factors Related to Agrotourism

Human resources

• lack of knowledge about services for tourists, skills as a guide.

Natural resources

Promotion

• lack of publicity

Infrastructure

Organizations linkages

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Impact of Agrotourism - Positive Impact

Rural tourism or agrotourism generates a significant contribution to the rural development process in rural areas

The contributions could be in the forms of income increase and job opportunities

Exchange between rural and urban areas, multiplier effects particularly for small-scale

Direct investments, strengthening local or regional structures by creating networks

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Stimulating physical infrastructure developments

Increasing the diversity of economic activities, raising awareness of the value of an area, such as its landscape, nature and culture, and the economic potencies, as well as improving the infrastructure which enable to provide opportunities for other economic developments.

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Negatives Impact of Agrotourism

The negative impacts of agrotourism development will occur when the development ignores the development principles and ethics.

The potential negative impacts which may occur such as degradation of environment and local culture qualities, and economics gaps among the regions.

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Quality and Sustainability of Agrotourism

FIVE PRINCIPLES TO SUSTAIN THE BUSINESS IN AGROTOURISM

1. Tourism has to initiate and involve the local societies to be controller of tourism;

2. Tourism has to provide labor opportunity and improve the quality of local societies’ lives;

3. Tourism has to be regulated by national and regional governments as well as host communities which formulated into an international agreement standard;

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4. Tourism has to provide guidance concerning operation, evaluation, analysis and critical of tourism impacts;

5. Tourism has to educate the local societies through education and training programs, to increase their awareness on tourism development which finally assist to preserve the cultural heritages and existing natural resources

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