Page 3 - GrowSA News September

I N D U S T R Y F E A T U R E

AGRITOURISM

SUSTAININGOURRURALCOMMUNITIESANDOURSOULS

Jacqui Taylor, founder and CEO of the non-profit organisa�on Agritourism Africa
Agritourism is a win-win situa�on in all meanings According to Jacqui, the most important benefit of
of the word. Not only does it provide another agritourism is the fact that it sustains rural towns and
value stream for farms and the people that rural communi�es. Families who would have had to
move to ci�es in the hope of a job who do not stay on a
already live on the farm that is easy to embark on,
farm, can now remain in the rural town and offer
it also provides the city dwellers with
products and services to the tourists visi�ng the area.
opportuni�es to “get their feet dirty” in the words
of Jacqui Taylor, founder and CEO of the non-profit It thus provides addi�onal value streams to rural
organisa�on Agritourism Africa. communi�es, villages, and farmers. It furthermore
enables the sharing of our agricultural heritage and rural
Agritourism, says Jacqui, is a growing interna�onal
lifestyle with local and interna�onal visitors.
sustainable tourism experience. It refers to any tourist
ac�vity happening on an ac�ve farm and linked to the “We must sustain the sense of community, of
farm’s ac�vi�es. people caring for each other.”
This can include ac�vi�es such as milking cows at the
dairy, shearing wool, harves�ng crops, culling herds, COVID-19 influenced agritourism like it influenced all
using agricultural implements, tas�ng and buying farm businesses in South Africa. However, when the tourists
produce. Using the farm’s resources for game viewing, were not there to buy the produce, the food was handed
birding, biking, hiking and fishing are all part of out, and people did not go hungry, even though they did
Agritourism. Boarding and lodging on the farm is a bonus not have any income. And when the people could start
but not a necessity. moving within their provinces, they flocked to the farms

Agritourism Africa is the link between tourists interested in search of space, fresh air, and being close to nature.
in a South African farm experience and all the role Farmers and farming communi�es interested in ge�ng
players in Agritourism.
involved in agritourism should make Agritourism Africa
It serves as an informa�on hub highligh�ng tourism their first port of call. A�er star�ng Agritourism Africa
experiences on farms across Africa, and it is also a source four years ago as an NGO, Jacqui has gained a wealth of
of advice for farmers interested in crea�ng a farm knowledge. She will evaluate your business plan and help
experience for tourists. In this regard, it provides advice do the right things to ensure that your business is a
and guidance to their members, assists with marke�ng success. Jacqui is passionate about sustaining rural
and promo�ons, and represents Agritourism at communi�es, “we must sustain the sense of community,
governmental, tourism, and organized agricultural
of people caring for each other,” says Jacqui.
ins�tu�ons.
Interested in ge�ng involved in Agritourism? Go to September | GROWSA MONTHLY NEWS 3
their website www.agritourismafrica.com