Agritourism: what exactly is it?

Agritourism: you are hearing more and more about it. But what is it really? Why does it matter and what are its benefits?

Agritourism: what exactly is it?

Agritourism or agrotourism, sometimes referred to as agricultural tourism or farm tourism, is a form of tourism whose purpose is the discovery of an area's farming know-how, and by extension of the landscapes, social practices and culinary specialities that stem from agriculture.

Agritourism brings together services linked to accommodation and catering, but also every activity that involves discovering the countryside, such as educational farms.

Increasingly popular since the health crisis, this type of tourism is booming: we feel a growing need to get back to nature and to something authentic. The question of eating well also matters here, as knowing what we eat and where the produce comes from takes up an ever larger place in society.

The benefits

The benefits of agritourism are many:

• A return to your roots: you go back to life as it used to be, life in the open air surrounded by animals
• A stronger bond with producers: with supermarkets, it is easy to forget where the food we eat comes from and the work behind every item
• Environmental awareness:you will see vast stretches of grass and animals, so how could you not become aware of our impact on it all?

What's more, if you have children, it is the perfect chance to show them farm animals and teach them where the food they eat comes from. You raise their awareness of animal welfare and, above all, you will hear them roar with laughter at the cows or the sheep grazing away!

Finally, taking your holidays on a farm boosts the rural economy and gives farmers extra income! And that is far from insignificant. So, when shall we see you down on the farm?

If you would like to learn more about the other forms of tourism that grew during the health crisis, take a look at our article on "local tourism".

These benefits do not all land in the same place: here is who gains what.

Benefit	What it changes	Who gains
Back to basics	Life in the open air, alongside animals	The traveller
Closer to the producers	You know where the food comes from and the work behind it	The traveller
Environmental awareness	Wide stretches of grass and animals right in front of you	The traveller
Discovery for children	Farm animals, where food comes from, animal welfare	Families
Extra income	A supplement to the farming activity	The farmer
A livelier rural economy	Farm holidays keep the local area alive	The rural area

Frequently asked questions

Agritourism, agrotourism, farm tourism: is it all the same thing? Yes. The three terms describe the same reality, just like “agricultural tourism”. They all cover a form of tourism built around discovering the farming know-how of an area.

What does an agritourism stay actually include? Accommodation and food, first of all. Then every activity built around discovering the countryside, starting with educational farms. And the visit does not stop at the farmyard: landscapes, local ways of life and regional dishes are part of the trip.

Why has agritourism grown so much? The health crisis sped things up. The wish to get back to nature and to something authentic has stayed, and with it the question of eating well. Knowing what you eat and where the food comes from matters more than it used to.

Does agritourism work with children? It is one of its strongest points. Children see the farm animals and understand where their food comes from. You raise their awareness of animal welfare, and you will hear them laugh out loud in front of the grazing cows.

What does agritourism bring to the farmer? Extra income on top of the farming activity. Across a whole area, it keeps the rural economy moving. That counts for a lot where sources of income are few.