Abstract
Agritourism, which combines agricultural activities with attracting visitors to farms, has become increasingly popular as a means of diversifying farm income and promoting sustainable rural development. However, the development of agritourism faces challenges due to fragmented definitions and policies, requiring attention for sustainable growth. Inconsistent guidelines and unclear distinctions dilute the unique agricultural experiences and cause confusion. Without well-defined policies, overcommercialisation and a shift away from agriculture can undermine authenticity and food security. Maintaining a balance between tourism and agriculture showcases farming practices, local produce, and cultural heritage, benefiting the local economy and promoting sustainable land use. As a result, the primary goal of this PhD dissertation is to investigate the current state, influencing factors and consequences of agritourism activities. Based on a literature review and primary and secondary data collection and analysis (Chapter 1), this study addresses seven research questions organized into four chapters: Chapter 2 (RQ1) aim to study the overall state of agritourism policies. In particular, it examines the policy and support systems for agritourism farms, providing insights into different approaches and investments made by countries in three case studies (Italy, USA and South Africa). Findings show that agritourism demonstrated great potential, but farms need assistance with navigating existing regulations, and the lack of consistency in policy and regulations creates barriers, confusion, and unevenness in the support systems available for agricultural enterprises. Private sector support on both the national and regional levels has played an important role in agritourism development along with university research. Finally, the comparison of these three cases shows that the countries are in different life cycle stages of agritourism development. Chapter 3 (RQ2 and RQ3) evaluates the sustainability differences between agritourism and non-agritourism farms from the economic, social and environmental dimension. Furthermore, it investigates the impacts of agritourism activities on traditional farming. The chapter is based on quantitative survey data obtained from farmers from the Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino Euroregion and analyzed using econometric analysis, specifically employing propensity score methods (PSM). The results indicate notable differences between agritourism and non-agritourism farms in terms of sustainability dimensions. Economically, agritourism farms exhibit higher incomes compared to their non-agritourism counterparts. However, it was observed that agritourism activities have a negative impact on the production quantity and value of traditional farming activities. In terms of social sustainability, agritourism farms face trade-offs. While partner involvement in farm activities increases significantly, farmers experience a decrease in free time and reduced interaction with the local community. Nevertheless, overall satisfaction levels remain similar between agritourism and non-agritourism farms. Regarding environmental sustainability, agritourism farms exhibit positive outcomes. They demonstrate a higher adoption of sustainable practices, including organic production, renewable energy utilization, active waste reduction, and satisfaction with renewable energy usage. Chapter 4 (RQ4 and RQ5) aims to delve into the factors contributing to the greater adoption of organic farming and the decreased interaction with the local community in agritourism farms compared to non-agritourism farms. To do so, a logistic regression model has been applied to understand the influence of tourists on farms. Chapter 5 (RQ6 and RQ7) aim to provides a comprehensive overview of the agritourism sector in the Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino Euroregion and potential differences between the three provinces. This chapter offers an in-depth analysis of the present state of agritourism in the area, examining the motivations that drive farmers to embrace this activity, the challenges they encounter, and their future plans. Taken together, the evidence (particularly in Chapter 3) indicates that agritourism offers sustainability advantages. However, a differentiated assessment is necessary, suggesting that agritourism is not a general farm sector or rural development solution. Agritourism has both benefits and drawbacks that need to be understood and taken into consideration when policy decisions on public support measures are taken. In other words, the promotion of agritourism should be aligned with regional or national overall rural development policy objectives while taking also into account that agritourism promotion may adversely affect global food security and/or the production of local food.