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".