Relevance
The First World Congress on Agritourism was organized by Eurac Research, a private research center, and held in Bolzano, Italy, in 2018. After bidding against India, ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Extension won the right to host the follow-up conference, the First International Workshop on Agritourism (IWA). The plan was to hold IWA in Burlington, Vermont, in October 2020 with the next congress back in Italy in 2022. However, the event had to be postponed until August 30-September 1, 2022 because the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to all travel and in-person conferences
Response
In lieu of the conference, and as a way to stimulate conversations about agritourism among people from different countries, ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Extension and the International Workshop on Agritourism hosted Virtual Agritourism Gatherings, a series of free webinars between September 2020 and May 2021. These monthly gatherings, designed to provide a global perspective on agritourism, were led by industry professionals from around the world. They attracted a mix of participants including producers, Cooperative Extension personnel, researchers, non-profits, educators, tourism professionals, and entrepreneurs. A diverse number of topics were addressed ranging from COVID-19 safety protocols for agritourism operations and creating virtual farm events to racial justice and regional strategies for agritourism development.
Results
The series reached 1,704 unique registrants representing 66 countries. Of the 1,612 registrants who shared their home country, almost 75% (1,229) were from the U.S. Canada was next with 78 participants, followed by Italy (41), Romania (31), South Africa (28), India (19), the United Kingdom (17), Greece (16), the Philippines (12), and France (10). While many countries had single digits for participants, the combined number of registrants in Latin America was 23, with Costa Rica leading the way with 6 registrants. In the U.S., all 50 states and Washington, D.C. were represented. Vermont had the most with 163. Occupations varied widely with 24% of participants identifying as producers (farmers/ranchers/growers), 23% as educators, 21% as Cooperative Extension Service or other type of service provider, 21% as tourism professionals, 23% with non-profits, 18% as business owners or managers, 18% as researchers, and 15% with a government agency. Multiple selections could be made, so the totals are greater than 100%. When respondents were asked about the benefits of attending the virtual agritourism gatherings, 98% reported "increased my understanding of topics," 91% said "provided ideas on how to access resources related to my work," and 90% said "met my professional development needs." A lower percent (72%) "made new contacts for collaboration" due to the limitations of networking during virtual events. Additionally, 87% checked "other" and described specific ways that they benefited that were not already listed. One surprising frequently described benefit can be characterized as developing a sense of camaraderie or togetherness. Although personal contacts were limited through the Zoom webinars, many participants still felt a connection to the larger group, which was important during quarantine and travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Value Statement
Today many Americans have no direct connection to farm life, even in rural areas. By offering authentic farm experiences for visitors, agritourism operators provide recreational, educational, and immersive experiences for the public while promoting a better understanding of the various facets of agriculture, including its importance to the local economy. Agritourism generates a revenue stream for producers while also helping to preserve agricultural heritage.
Statement Synopsis
¶¶Òõ̽̽ Extension and the First International Workshop on Agritourism hosted Virtual Agritourism Gatherings, a well-attended series of free webinars designed to provide a global perspective on agritourism by connecting agritourism professionals from around the world. A total of 1,704 unique registrants representing 66 countries attended with the highest number of participants from the U.S., Canada, Italy, Romania, and South Africa.