“Growing” Tourism

Tourism has long been a great field to start a profitable business. Penthouse suites in the world’s greatest cities, gigantic hotels erected on pristine beaches, and luxury liners dropping anchor all over the world. The money is often good, really good. And each new resort is meant to outdo the last – in size, luxury, and of course, price. The height of lavishness one year, may be outdated the next. The Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas, and Dubai’s over-the-top ridiculous Al-Arab hotel, the only 7-star hotel in the world (though it is a self-awarded rating). The tourism industry exploded in the second half of the twentieth century, but the 21st Century of over consumption has shown that bigger does not necessarily mean better.

One growing sector in the tourism industry is agritourism. The main idea behind agritourism is people going to stay on farms for a holiday vacation. They visit for rest, relaxation, and the chance to learn about plants, animals, growing food, and the day-to-day life of a farmer. In a world where most people are far removed from the natural world, where everything we could possibly want is shrink-wrapped, packaged, and shipped to us, agritourism is all about getting back to nature. With ever-progressing technology and modernity comes a cushy urban or suburban lifestyle, the peace and quiet of a farm becomes a novelty.

While already commonplace among the farms of Italy, agritourism has gained popularity worldwide as of late. Increased environmental and health concerns, as well as the explosion of the organic food industry, are major reasons to the growing interest in farming. With that, comes tourism. There is a big range in the prices and the quality of accommodation, but the idea is that you pay the farmer to stay and enjoy the property, the food, and any other local attractions. Often times you can help work on the farm and receive a free or low-cost stay.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an excellent organization that provides a directory of organic farms that allows you to come and visit. You can work on the farms during the days, and in return you do not have to pay for your accommodation. Depending on the farm, you may be able to eat for free as well. Providing accommodation for tourists is usually not too expensive, and the extra help on the farm helps the farmer harvest more crops, earn more money, and subsequently, grow and expand.

Most farms are strictly organic and try to minimize their environmental impact. Tourists are able to learn about sustainable farming, the lives of farmers, and the perks of eating organic and local food. Of course these farms are not the multi-million dollar resorts like the Atlantis, but they are proving to be a breath of fresh air on the tourist industry.

If you haven’t read Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, pick up a copy and check out why growing your own food is not a backwards lifestyle, but how it can be a healthy, sustainable, and fun way to live.

Agritourism may not be an exploding industry, but it is steadily growing. By forgoing the 5-star hotel in the Carribean and opting for a local farm in your state, you can support a number of good things: your local economy, sustainable farming, healthy food, and of course, you can have a wonderful vacation. If you don’t feel like staying close to home, WWOOF lists farms from all over the world, so your options are endless.