Agriculture Tourism Development in India

Abstract: Agricultural tourism, sometimes called agri-tourism or agro-tourism, is becoming a major recreation activity. The changes in people’s lifestyle, social structure, food intake, family structure and urban development have resulted in a callous approach towards agriculture. People are busy pursuing their daily role and urban life. However, urban development has also brought in with it problems of environment, pollution, health and greenhouse. Nowadays, an increasing consumer awareness including health consciousness, the need for organic food and demand for green environment is getting attention. This interest is somehow related to agriculture and wider acceptance of benefits of agriculture such as agro bio diversity, medicinal and nourishing value of agricultural produce, organic food, agro-eco tourism and traditional practices/ritual. This indicates a change in perception among urban people towards agriculture (Kumbhar, 2009). Agro tourism is defined broadly as a tourism activity that focuses on agriculture and agricultural practices. While agriculturally-oriented tourism activities have a long history, it was not until the last few years that the formal definition of agri-tourism has been articulated. Agri-tourism is any agricultural based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. Agricultural tourism is one of the successful off-farm income generating activities that are being developed in many countries with the advent of modern tourism. It is a change from the traditional type of tourism where tourism was viewed wholly as a commercialized industry. The broader concept of agricultural tourism focuses on natural based space and the traditional culture in rural areas.