Abstract
This study aims to investigate the impact of landscape on farm-tourism demand. Natural and rural landscapes are an integral part of farm-tourism, however mankind is constantly modifying rural areas to make them more accessible, livable, profitable. Do new infrastructures spoil the attractiveness and competitiveness of the areas? Do tourists’ expectations in terms of preservations of natural resources and need for relaxation and rejuvenation in an unspoiled environment collide with residents’ needs for modern infrastructures and an improvement in their quality of life?
This research is based on the analysis of 229 questionnaires collected among farm tourists in the North-East of Italy. The survey included questions about the perception of how pleasant and unpleasant is the presence of natural and manmade elements in the surrounding landscape of the farm. A likert scale from 1 to 5 was employed.
The analysis identifies those elements of landscape that create nuisance and those that are considered pleasant in farm-tourism. The results of this study underline the importance for land planners to consider landscape as an integral part of rural attraction and to carefully decide on how, and with what elements, to modify it in order to maintain rural areas more accessible and profitable for local inhabitants, but also more attractive for tourists.