In 2005, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis officially closed the sugar industry, ending mono-crop agriculture and opening a space for a new chosen economic driver, tourism. Newly available lands, an agricultural- based workforce and a push into tourism led to this research examining the state of agricultural tourism development in a transitioning region. Interviews with key public and private sector personnel, coupled with an evaluation of official policies and plans, were used in this qualitative case study to explore the state of agricultural tourism development (opportunities and barriers) and the role that stakeholders play in its creation. This research not only found common geographic and technical barriers but also endemic mental and behavioural characteristics of the local populace, which hinder agricultural development and, by extension, agricultural tourism. Negative attitudes towards agriculture and a lack of entrepreneurial spirit pervade, which hampers agricultural tourism development. Hence, this research shows that local attitudes towards agriculture play an important role in successfully diversifying agriculture via tourism. Many studies focus on the addition of tourism to an agricultural product without first ensuring the successful production of agricultural products themselves so that agricultural tourism can develop. Hence, this research asserts the need for the agricultural industry to upgrade its products to meet expected tourism standards before moving into agricultural tourism. Additionally, for the successful development of agricultural tourism, there needs to be a focused and sustained plan aimed at changing the mindset of the local populace towards agriculture and entrepreneurship, coupled with the government providing a facilitative environment conducive to developing agricultural tourism.

Many parts of Appalachia, including areas of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, lag behind much of the country in key socioeconomic indicators. There is a need for economic development opportunities that leverage the region's natural resources in a sustainable manner. This study investigates the feasibility of using maple syrup production as an economic development strategy. This study is broken into three sections, the first is a survey of current maple syrup producers to investigate how syrup is produced and sold in this region. This survey is followed by a pricing analysis that was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of small-scale producers competing with often larger and well-established Northeastern maple syrup producers. The final chapter is an economic impact analysis of the Highland County Maple Festival. This analysis was conducted to learn about the current impacts of maple syrup agritourism for producers and the communities they operate in. Findings from this study indicate that the maple syrup industry in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia is smaller and more localized than the industry in the Northeastern United States and Canada. However, the difference in how maple syrup is sold can provide many potential benefits for Appalachian communities. A localized approach to selling maple syrup that relies on attracting visitors to farms has the potential to create an economic stimulus for not only maple syrup producers, but also the communities in which they operate. / Master of Science / The Appalachian region of the United States has higher rates of poverty than the rest of the country. Many rural communities in Appalachia are also losing population. Due to these factors, there is a need for the development of new ways to bring money and jobs into Appalachian communities. This study investigates the potential to use maple syrup production to help stimulate economic development into central Appalachian communities in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This study is broken into three sections, the first is a survey of maple syrup producers to see how syrup is currently produced and sold in this region. This survey is followed by a pricing analysis that was conducted to see if it is possible for small-scale producers to sell their products in grocery stores. The final chapter is an economic impact analysis of the Highland County Maple Festival. This analysis was conducted to see how tourism that is focused on maple syrup impacts the communities that it takes place in. Findings from this study indicate that the maple syrup industry in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia is smaller and more local than the industry in the Northeastern United States and Canada. However, the difference in how maple syrup is sold can provide many potential benefits for Appalachian. A localized approach to selling maple syrup that relies on attracting visitors to farms through tourism has the potential to create an economic stimulus for not only maple syrup producers, but also the communities in which they operate.

The main aim of the study was to analyze the socio-economic variables effecting agritourism business using data from two rural communities of the Limpopo province, Nwa’metwa and Lenyenye. The results showed that there are significant socio-economic differences among agritourism and non-agritourism farmers. The socio-economic variables used are literacy, gender, age, land size and family size. Two multinomial models were used to model agritourism behavior. The two models, namely fully and partially registered agritourism farmers were estimated. Non-registered agritourism farmers were used as the reference group. These models denoted the relative probability of both fully and partially registered agritourism farmers to the probability of the non-registered agritourism farmers. The logarithm results implied that older farmers were less likely to prefer to operate business as a fully or partially registered agritourism farmer compared to the non-registered agritourism group. Farmers’ decisions in business operation were informed by their level of education, experience as well as social networks. / Agriculture, Animal Health & Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

The main aim of the study was to analyze the socio-economic variables effecting agritourism business using data from two rural communities of the Limpopo province, Nwa’metwa and Lenyenye. The results showed that there are significant socio-economic differences among agritourism and non-agritourism farmers. The socio-economic variables used are literacy, gender, age, land size and family size. Two multinomial models were used to model agritourism behavior. The two models, namely fully and partially registered agritourism farmers were estimated. Non-registered agritourism farmers were used as the reference group. These models denoted the relative probability of both fully and partially registered agritourism farmers to the probability of the non-registered agritourism farmers. The logarithm results implied that older farmers were less likely to prefer to operate business as a fully or partially registered agritourism farmer compared to the non-registered agritourism group. Farmers’ decisions in business operation were informed by their level of education, experience as well as social networks. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent Amanor-Boadu / Transforming Belmont Estate from a traditional agricultural production business into a profitable agri-tourism enterprise is the issue addressed in this thesis. The importance of this problem rests on the fact that the author is the general manager of this family business and needs to organize it in ways that facilitates its ability to keep growing in a rapidly changing market environment. Given the increasing positioning of Grenada as a preferred tourist destination and the increasing number of people who are responding to this positioning, the management of Belmont Estate believes that transforming this traditional agricultural production business into an agritourism business will create significant value for shareholders and stakeholders. The process of transforming the organization needs to start with a new way of envisioning it. Therefore, a strategic direction and a compelling value proposition were developed. An assessment of the business environment was conducted to develop a framework where specific strategies could be developed to support the new strategic direction that has been established. Additionally, a financial analysis that focused on the contribution of the different enterprises to the new strategic direction was conducted to assess the potential financial outcome of this effort. The results show that Belmont Estate is well-positioned to benefit from increasing tourism business in Grenada. If the management of Belmont Estate can implement the strategic plan, it can successfully transform Belmont Estate from an agricultural production business into an efficient agritourism business that not only creates value for its shareholders and stakeholders but offers a welcome diversity to Grenada’s growing tourism industry.

The purpose of this study was to identify the key educational components of agritourism in Tennessee. The study strived to identify if knowledge of the agricultural industry increased due to agritourism experiences and if perception of the agriculture industry changed due to the experience. Additionally, the research sought to describe visitor demographics and characteristics.Following a pilot study in 2009, three agritourism venues throughout the state of Tennessee were used to collect surveys to create a pool of respondents and to identify their original knowledge of perceptions of the agriculture industry for the 2010 study. Additional data was gathered through an extensive post survey that gathered demographic information and respondents’ knowledge and perception levels based on several five point Likert scale questions. The responses were coded and entered by the primary investigator. The information was analyzed using means, standard deviations, and frequencies.The study revealed that respondents to agritourism venues do think that they experience are educational. The visitors expected an educational experience. Experiences at agritourism venues tend to increase consumer confidence slightly. Many respondents agree that they learn best through the hands on experience provided through the agritourism venues. Additionally, all respondents agreed that they would recommend the experience to others.

M. Tech. Ecotourism Management. / Farms in South Africa have to compete in a very hostile agricultural economic environment and it has become imperative for farmers to find new ways of generating additional income. Research undertaken in the Mopani District Municipality in the Limpopo Province of South Africa identified agritourism as a potential means to this end. The main aim of this primarily qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the perceptions and opportunities for agritourism in the study area. Five current agritourism establishments were identified in the area namely the Coach House, Kuhestan Farm, Thomac Oil Distillery, Wegraakbosch Organic Dairy Farm and ZZ2 Boerdery. By developing farm trails, scheduling daily farm activities, using information brochures, forming networks with existing tourist establishments, encouraging the use of local and fresh produce and providing good roadside signage, farmers can gain increased exposure and recognition for what they do and opportunities for growth and development may be realised.

Customers play an essential role in the growth and success of any business. Wineries and other agricultural-based enterprises that actively engage and/or involve customers in production and other central processes do so for reasons that transcend simple marketing strategies. This qualitative study explores the strategic potential of customer inclusion in the operations of locally and/or regionally-based agricultural enterprises vis-à-vis on-site tourist models. This exploration relies on the theoretical principles of value co-creation to identify and illustrate how agritourism enterprises can more purposefully and strategically engage and embed consumers within their business operations. Atmosphere, compromise, and investment of consumers within the value creation process leads to the transition of such consumers; taking them passive recipients to active participants.

Farm enterprise diversification is an important tool for agricultural producers with respect to risk management. As agricultural producers in Virginia look to prepare their farm businesses for the new millennium, they are increasingly considering non-traditional enterprises and activities for their farms. As producers add new enterprises, they encounter challenges to develop new skills and gather adequate information for their new activities. Virginia Cooperative Extension has the task of providing producers with timely and useful research-based information. As both producers and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents and specialists prepare for the challenges of the changing face of agriculture in Virginia in the next generation, a mutual understanding of the key factors and motivations for enterprise diversification is necessary. This study investigates the key factors, motivations, and information needs of seven diversified farms in Virginia. The implications for producers and Cooperative Extension are outlined, and recommendations are made for Virginia Cooperative Extension, lenders, and agribusiness. / Master of Science

The implementation of agritourism in the U.S. has increased in recent years. Agritourism provides social and economic benefits to rural communities, leads small-scale farms to achieve financial viability, and offers clientele an entertaining opportunity to meet local producers. Although multiple resources exist to educate individuals interested in pursuing agritourism business ventures, related materials cannot be generalized to Mississippi due to inapplicable data. This study aimed to gain knowledge about Mississippi’s agritourism clientele by administering surveys to attendees of the 2021 Mississippi State Fair. The survey instrument was amended from a previous study conducted by Nasers and Retallick (2009) in Iowa. Although most of the results corresponded with findings in similar studies, numerous recommendations were made that were specific to Mississippi farmers and agritourism operators.