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Agritourism and its objectives
Rural areas are characterized by a diverse natural environment and a varied landscape, making them an ideal place for recreation. The natural conditions of rural areas not only encourage the development of tourism, including agritourism, but actually facilitate it, as people crave close contact with nature.
It is assumed that agritourism is a type of recreation on a farm, where you can find accommodation, enjoy local food, observe animal husbandry, plant cultivation or participate in work, such as field work. Its purpose, in addition to providing conditions for recreation, is to counter the depopulation of villages and mountain towns, increase the income of the local population, improve the attractiveness of rural areas, educate and develop infrastructure to support tourism.
Be close to nature
The interest of tourists, mainly residents of larger towns and cities, and the increasingly perceptible need to commune with nature, necessitates the expansion and enhancement of services provided as part of agritourism.
Thanks to the qualities of the rural landscape, fishing, horseback riding, being among livestock (animal pens), homesteads and nature trails, bicycle tours, participating in farm work, learning traditional arts and crafts (e.g., clay sculpting, embroidery, crocheting), participating in folk ceremonies or preparing regional dishes are becoming more common.
Therefore, in order to encourage recreation in rural areas, and at the same time ensure the protection of natural resources (water, soils), habitats or landscape, it is necessary to organize appropriate infrastructure, among others. accommodation, bicycle paths, walking trails, rest areas (e.g. shelters with canopies, Wi-Fi access, bicycle repair stations, etc.), but also toilets, trash garbage cans or health-related services.
Proper preparation of the region will enable both to increase the attractiveness of the area and economic development, as well as ensure the protection of nature and environmental resources.
Social farming
An increasingly popular approach to agritourism and agriculture is the introduction of social services that will build on the resources and activities of a farm.
The essence of social agriculture is multifunctionality, which seeks to meet both production-market and non-agricultural (environmental, cultural, economic and general social) needs.
Social agriculture includes: social tourism, educational homesteads, care farms, themed villages, commercialization of local cultural potential, food cooperatives within short supply chains.
Need to finance sustainable agritourism
Financial instruments play a key role in ensuring the development of tourism in rural areas, including agritourism. The importance of the Common Agricultural Policy and the support instruments offered under the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan for 2023 – 2027 for raising the attractiveness of rural areas as a leisure destination and promoting their tourist and natural values.
LEADER/RLKS interventions
LEADER/Community Driven Local Development (RLKS) intervention is aimed at building local identity by activating the community using existing knowledge, local resources, innovation and digital solutions.
Implementation of the intervention consists in the implementation by local action groups (LAGs) of selected local development strategies (LSRs). Its goals include. Meeting the needs of the local community, as well as those residing temporarily in rural areas. The goals of the intervention can be achieved, among other things. By implementing operations in the following scopes of support:
- Development of non-agricultural farm functions, especially in:
- agritourism farms;
- educational homesteads;
- care farms.
- Business development, including the development of the bioeconomy or green economy, in particular:
- undertaking non-agricultural economic activities by individuals;
- Developing non-agricultural economic activities;
- Developing social enterprises.
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You can read about how to spend time in nature in an active way in our article “The Vistula Bicycle Route, or how to reconcile tourism and flood control interests. “
