Background
Farmers are facing challenges such as environmental regulations, inflation, and price volatility, leading many to seek land use changes and diversification. Agritourism has emerged as a popular option, integrating tourism into farming and providing opportunities for experiencing real farming life in New Zealand and re-connecting with nature.
Aims & Objectives
The research aimed to understand why farmers diversify into agritourism and what opportunities exist in this sector. The question addressed was, “What opportunities lie in New Zealand agritourism?” The goal was to provide information for farmers considering agritourism to diversify their farming businesses and investigate how the agritourism sector could grow.
Methodology
A literature review established definitions, drivers, benefits, and challenges of agritourism globally and compared them to New Zealand. Qualitative interviews with agritourism operators and stakeholders identified motivations, benefits, challenges, and success factors in the sector.
Key Findings
- Agritourism diversification is driven by financial and social factors.
- Diversified income and resource optimization enhance business resilience and facilitate business growth.
- Agritourism provides opportunities for non-farming partners and family members, enabling personal growth and offering flexibility.
- Challenges include operational considerations such as balancing farming and tourism activities, health and safety, weather implications and staffing requirements.
- Authenticity is the key to success in the agritourism sector. Providing experiences unique to individual businesses and the resources they have available.
- Agritourism helps bridge the rural-urban divide and helps educate urban people on the primary sector.
- Agritourism can also help promote New Zealand farming and products on an international scale.
- New Zealand lacks agritourism leadership compared to countries like Australia and Scotland. No national strategy exists to support sustainable growth of agritourism.
Recommendations For Farmers
- Investigate agritourism as an option to optimise land use, improve profitability and create a role for non-farming partners or other family members.
- Undertake robust business planning and market research to and develop products that suit the land, region and people in the business.
- Ensure offerings are unique and authentic to avoid “cookie cutter” experiences.
- Consider the effects on your local community, both positive and negative. Minimise any negative impacts to maintain social license.
- Connect with Regional Tourism Organisations for local tourism information and collaboration opportunities.
Recommendations to stakeholders
- New Zealand government needs to recognise the opportunity within agritourism and develop an agritourism strategy for sustainable growth. Pulling inspiration from existing international strategies such as the Australian “Agritourism 2030” national framework.
- Tourism New Zealand needs to redirect funding from marketing to destination management and infrastructure development in the regions to support sustainable growth of agritourism.
Emma Harvey
