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DEVELOPING AGROTOURISM AND PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF HOMESTEADS

Marko Radić, the head of the Tourism Promotion Department of the Tourist Organization of Republika Srpska, offered an insightful perspective on the potential of domestic agritourism in an authored article published on the Bloomberg Adria portal.

DEVELOPING AGROTOURISM AND PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF HOMESTEADS
PHOTO: Pixabay

Before delving into the story of agritourism, I want to draw a parallel between terms that often overlap: rural tourism, village tourism, and agritourism, where agritourism essentially represents a narrower concept than rural tourism, while simultaneously being broader than village tourism. While rural tourism encompasses every tourist activity and segment offered in rural areas, agritourism is closely linked to the ambiance of the village and its immediate surroundings, including activities such as agriculture, gastronomy, and other related economic activities and experiences that connect you with the nature and ambiance of the village.

Simultaneously, village tourism would entail engaging in tourism within one's household, exclusively tied to agricultural activities within a specific household and the offering of products produced within that household, with tourism being an additional activity.

Agritourism is increasingly attracting tourists

Agritourism as a form of tourism is increasingly attracting tourists eager for authentic experiences through direct acquaintance with local culture and ways of life. The need for this type of tourism has been created by modern lifestyles and accepted habits over time.

We see this through the faster pace of life, constant hustle, long daily commutes, extensive internet and computer-related work, daily exposure to stressful situations, increased incidence of mental and physical illnesses, less time spent in nature, lack of time for oneself and family, unhealthy eating habits, and so on.

Through agritourism, guests have the opportunity for new experiences, including learning about traditional methods of food cultivation, participating in activities such as fruit and vegetable picking, cow milking, traditional cooking, wood chopping, and even participating in local customs and celebrations.

One of the key segments of agritourism is authenticity. It may seem strange, but these kinds of things represent a real challenge to people coming from urban environments and certainly an irreplaceable experience that they will gladly pay for.

Tourists love authentic, personalized experiences. So, besides providing an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experiences between hosts and guests, through the experience of visiting agritourism estates, tourists get complete relief from everything that represents the daily routine in which they live and struggle. It offers them what they have become alienated from and lost long ago, and they want to see, hear, taste, and pay for such experiences.

Guests benefit from experiences of rural life, tasting locally produced food, and experiencing the daily life and lifestyle of hosts, while hosts benefit from income from the sale of local food and drinks, accommodation, and other activities and experiences they offer guests, while gaining new perspectives and ideas for developing their business.

We need to breathe life into rural areas

Given that Bosnia and Herzegovina represents an extremely rural destination, and agritourism is a promising form of tourism, it is clear that attention should be directed towards local food, authentic experiences in line with our way of life, customs, and tradition, and reviving villages and rural areas, so that through the process of creating an offer, we can breathe life into those areas.

There aren't many people like that, so we need to take care of every person who has a vision and desire to adapt rural properties for tourism purposes.

Policies should be directed towards these people and provide support and concrete assistance to those who want to earn a living, produce local food, and create events and experiences through village and agritourism, and through incentives, they will be the bearers of this story.

Therefore, a clear vision and non-refundable assistance are needed for agricultural activities, as well as for the adaptation of buildings in villages, and this should not be a matter of one-time decisions and assistance, but systematic, year-round assistance to preserve the village from long-started processes of extinguishing homesteads, which is in the interest not only of the owners of rural tourism facilities but all of us.

Source: www.bloombergadria.com