Abstract
Since the late 18th century, tourists have been attracted to mountain destinations. The increasing recognition of this value of mountain areas was associated with iconic images of specific mountain locations, leading to a focus on the development of these localities. Tourism in mountain regions has hence shown very early the two faces of tourism, the traditional view of images of ‘pristine nature’ and features of ‘mass tourism’. The Alpine range is the best-known example of the relentless tourism growth. However, this area boast itself also of the development of significant nature protection areas and an emerging endeavor for sustainable tourism approaches. Linked to these developments agritourism initiatives and programmes spread throughout the mountain areas, taking account of specific favourable conditions for this type of tourism demand. With the global ‘explosion’ of leisure tourism, the place-specific assets of mountain landscapes and the specific types of agritourism offers in the mountain areas gained particular attractiveness. The idea of agritourism (in mountains) has spread to many parts in the world, and nowadays we recognize an increasing offer throughout diverse mountain regions. This reflects the search for sustainable tourism types, including a desire for an intensified relation to natural resources, and the nature of food origin.
Agritourism offers farmers the possibility of diversifying and generating additional income through on-farm touristic activities in order to help supplementing their low agricultural income. This helps to maintain the viability of active farms and rural communities. The more general understanding of agritourism states that agritourism activities support and promote agricultural resources, traditions and culture. Following this line of thought, agritourism results to be a successful example of sustainable tourism that has gained importance over the years.