Agronomy journal, Vol. 83 No. 5-6, 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.33128/ag.83.5-6.1
Organic agriculture as a key factor in the development of eco-agritourism – a case study of the Zadar County
Anđelko Vrsaljko
orcid.org/0000-0002-7141-8928
; Odjel za izobrazbu učitelja i odgojitelja Sveučilišta u Zadru, Zadar, Hrvatska
Abstract
The symbiosis between agritourism and ecotourism facilitated by the circular economy would be ideal for rural areas with natural virgin landscapes, which we find in abundance across the Croatian islands and coast. However, only 9 such farms exist in the entire Zadar County, and we conducted a face-toface survey among them. These farms are primarily characterized by diversified agricultural production with a variety of facilities, services and promotion. The primary motive for the respondents to enter eco-agritourism has proven to be the improvement of agricultural activity and exploitation of its tourist potential, the sale of agricultural products of a higher value on the property, selfemployment, preservation of natural and cultural heritage and a greater quality of family life. Visitors appear to desperately desire organic and traditional products, whilst staying in nature and engaging in nature-based activities. A greater quality of life, social contact and inter-cultural interaction have been identified as the main benefits of eco-agritourism, while administration and seasonality have been recognized as the limiting factors. All respondents emphasized that the organic production has been one of the key factors in the success of eco-agritourism. Based on secondary sources and previous research, we propose a consistent definition of eco-agritourism: Eco-agritourism can be defined as an agricultural farm-based symbiosis between organic food production and ecotourism where the principles of both organic food production and ecotourism are adhered to, are integrated both vertically and horizontally, and represent a product of the highest degree of sustainability, while incorporating natural and cultural heritage of the local community.
Keywords
agriculture; tourism; agritourism; eco-agritourism
Hrčak ID:
280323
URI
Publication date:
7.7.2022.
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