International Experiences in Agritourism and Their Role in Rural Development

Abstract

Agritourism is a fundamental pillar within the development pathways of global tourism. Hence, its importance has become evident, and it is considered a strategy for rural development on economic, social, cultural, and environmental levels. The research problem lies in highlighting indicators from global experiences and how these experiences of agritourism have contributed to the development of rural areas. The study aimed to reveal the approaches taken by these countries in this field and to derive practical indicators for rural development based on scientific literature. The methodology adopted by the study was descriptive-analytical. This study addressed the concepts of agritourism and rural development, and demonstrated the importance of agritourism and the activities practiced within agritourism farms. It also examined global experiences in agritourism. The results showed that the study arrived at some scientific indicators for the development of rural areas. The study demonstrated the role of agritourism in the economic development of rural areas as an important source of income for rural families. The study emphasized the participation of local communities in the planning and implementation process and pointed to the role of agritourism in preserving cultural identity and empowering women. The study recommended developing strategies to develop agricultural tourism, paying attention to cultural identity, reviving rural heritage, developing infrastructure to provide tourist attractions, and focusing on media promotion to make it a commercial destination and tourist destination.