Many people in the tourism industry are searching for new products that will bring tourists to their regions, including: Visitor and Convention Bureaus, Chambers of Commerce, local Tourism Committees and even provincial and national ministries of tourism.
There are many new niche tourism markets being developed, some successfully and some not. Farmers too are looking for other sources of income and other ways to market their agricultural products, services and information. "Agri" and "Rural" tourism are product/service types, each with its own unique set of characteristics. Both the tourism and agricultural industries will need to know the differences and similarities between each product/service type, in order to develop it successfully and sell it to the right tourism client market.
Eco-tourism, Ethno-tourism, Bird Watching and Whale Watching and so on are just such examples of niche tourism markets! What about agri or agro or agra or rural tourism? What is it? Why is it a new "buzz" word in some regions and "old hat" in others? The answers to those questions are many, but agri-tourism by any of its many names, is actually a well-established form of tourism. However, to be properly understood it should be sub-divided into two distinct tourism client groups - those interested in "Agri-Tourism" and those interested in "Rural Tourism". Are they the same thing just worded differently, or are they made of two distinctly different sets of criteria? In the first go-round they seem like they are the same subject, however, on further examination one should be able to see that there are several important differences and similarities.
Before getting involved in rural or agri-tourism, both types need to be looked at and studied so that the product or service provider can then best provide "tourists" with their tourism experience. One must compare and understand the similarities and differences between each, to then best be able to introduce clients to the right, products or services in the agricultural industry! If the tourism and agricultural industries can work in concert with each other, rather than independently, the resulting "niche market" can be very productive and effective. They will then be able market their particular type of ag-related tourism to the right customers successfully!
As an agricultural tour operator we define "Agri-tourism" in its purest form. Our customers are "agriculturally oriented tourists who are from the farm, from agri-businesses or who have retired from agricultural enterprises of some form and who want to see how the other guy does it". This in fact is the group of tourists who have been involved in farming or some form of agricultural enterprises as a part of their life-style - either born and raised on the farm, or employed in some agricultural work. When they travel, they want to meet with and visit others in the same, similar or totally different forms of agriculture and food production activities. Agri-tourists might also be farmers and agri-business people visiting other counties, provinces, and countries to buy or sell products, and who at the same time might visit both agricultural and non-agricultural sites and attractions. Or they might be traveling to far off places to agricultural trade shows and fairs, or plowing competitions, conferences and the like!
The potential customer base for pure agri-tourism makes up a only very small percentage of the world's population between 3 - 5% of those who are involved in agriculture and food production.
"Rural-tourism" on the other hand can be looked at or defined as "those who travel to the country-side to experience the rural life-style, beauty and uniqueness that only the country-side can provide". This group of tourists consists of anyone interested in traveling to the rural environment for the purpose of learning about, experiencing, participating in, or purchasing goods and services from people who are living in the country. The service providers for this form of rural tourism can be people involved in agriculture and/or food production activities or those rural dwellers who have unique or special non-agricultural products or services.
The segment of the world's traveling population who are potential customers for rural tourism, make up the other 95 - 97% of the population who are not farmers or those who do not already live in the rural environment.
Examples of these "rural tourists" include anyone who; take a country-side tour, buy honey from a local farm, visit orchards, or cheese factories, greenhouses, pumpkin patches, road-side fruit and vegetable stands, or nurseries, etc. But don't forget about the autumn leaves colour tours, fishing in the local stream, river or lake, visiting a maple sugar bush in the spring, taking photographs of the beautiful scenery, painting the landscape, hiking through the many trails, abandoned rail lines and conservation areas, provincial and national parks. All the people who participate in these activities are participating in various forms of rural tourism.
"Do you want to market your products or services to the rural tourist or the agri-tourist?"
To answer this question, the service or product provider must study what they have to offer, then identify whom best to market it to. When one knows who the potential clients are, one then must discover the best methods of reaching either the agri or rural tourists or both. Once offered, the product or service must be of such a high quality, so as to reach its maximum income potential. When someone has decided which form of tourism they are best suited to, they can then choose their marketing partners and go after that market. The bottom line is how many dollars one can earn, as in any other business. Whether the bottom line is in the black or in the red depends on knowing one's product or service, knowing the potential buyers and then figuring out the best way of satisfying those buyers' real or perceived needs and desires.
Whether you are a DMO (destination marketing organization), in the business of agriculture or a rural service or product provider, you will need to look at these two forms of tourism differently. Both the tourism and agricultural industries need to work together for the successful implementation of rural and/or agri-tourism. When tourism specialists try to force agri or rural tourism projects onto the agricultural or rural communities without consultation or cooperation, the results can be disastrous.
Whether you call it - Agri-Tourism OR Rural Tourism it doesn't matter. They are both forms of educational and entertainment tourism - and regardless of which form of tourism you decide to target, the number one thing which should always be remembered - tourism is people oriented and you have to like working with people - all kinds of people in all shapes and sizes. People are demanding. People want to feel like they got their money's worth! People have long memories! Get them on your side!
Always remember one basic marketing principle, people can be your best OR your worst form of advertising, because word-of-mouth marketing can either make you, or break you!