Agritourism

Although the tradition of visiting farms and ranches has a long history in many places around the world, the term agritourism is relatively new. Also known as agricultural tourism, agrotourism, agri-tourism, agritainment, farm tourism, farm-based education, and various other terms, agritourism refers to enterprises and activities conducted on farm or ranch sites for the pleasure, education, recreation, and enrichment of visitors. This entry begins with a description of agritourism and its many variations. Benefits and challenges of agritourism development are presented next, followed by a brief history of agritourism. The entry concludes with a discussion of agritourism trends.