Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. It contributes significantly to the country’s GDP and provides livelihood to more than half of population. In the current times, a new trend is gaining prominence in agriculture sector and its name is agritourism.
Agritourism is a mix of agriculture and tourism. It has attracted both domestic and international tourists alike. It can be more precisely described as a form of business that combines agricultural activities with tourism. It aims to attract individuals to farms, ranches, or other agricultural establishments.
The primary goal is to offer visitors both entertainment and educational experiences, and at the same time generate revenue for the farmers practicing agritourism.
Agriculture tourism, also known as farm tourism or agrotourism, is on the rise. It can be understood as a blend of culture and nature. Tourists across the world want to experience various aspects of agrotourism in India. Some of these aspects are:
As per a report of IAMRC, the India agrotourism market is expected to grow at the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% between 2023 and 2028.
There are various reasons discussed below that have contributed to this increasing agrotourism trend in India.
The world is dominated by urbanisation and technology. This makes people look for a way to reconnect with nature. They want to experience simple living, which is significantly hard in existing landscapes.
Agrotourism helps them to stay away from the fast-paced life of cities. Farm tourism allows them to connect with nature.
Agritourism provides a platform for education about agriculture, environmental conservation, and sustainable agriculture practices. Tourists, primarily small children, learn about the food production process. This provides them with knowledge regarding where their food comes from.
Rural areas often face economic challenges, leading to migration towards urban settlements. Agri eco tourism helps them monetarily. It injects capital into these communities, which helps local economies to flourish and preserve the traditional way of life.
Agritourism in India allows for genuine interaction of tourists with local cultures. This interaction fosters cross-cultural understanding. It also leads to the preservation of traditions by making tourists aware of them.
India's agritourism business has gained an amazing pace in recent years. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Punjab have appeared as agritourism places in India. Visitors are welcomed into farms, wineries, spice gardens, and orchards.
There they actively engage in activities like plucking tea leaves, picking fruits, and participating in traditional crafts. The idea of spending holidays in quiet country settings is connecting with tourists from all over the world.
The growth of agritourism brings a variety of benefits that reach beyond the tourism sector:
While agro tourism in India is on the rise, it has some challenges also. Some of these are:
Irrespective of the challenges faced by farm tourism in India, the future of agrotourism appears promising:
The growth of agritourism in India represents a change in travellers' tastes towards memorable and experiencing travel. This trend not only gives vacationers a chance to escape their daily routines but also gives rural areas opportunities for economic development and cultural preservation.
Agritourism has the ability to change how we see both tourism and agriculture, promoting a positive link between the two with the proper mix of legislative backing, community involvement, and sustainable practices.