The main motivation for entering the agricultural and rural tourism sector takes on a number of farm needs and interests. The main needs that stimulate farmers to enter the agro-rural tourism sector include

•    Provide additional income to help them develop their capacities and improve their standard of living 

•    An increase in the value of the farm that provides agricultural tourism for additional income compared to the farm that does not 

•    Selling farm products to tourists and visitors at a better price than selling them on the market 

•    Assist the owner of the farm to make better use of its components, in particular fixed costs, such as enterprises, labour and others 

•    Social and economic causes driven by changes in lifestyle while maintaining and sustaining the farm 

There is still no commonly accepted general definition of agricultural and rural tourism. Agricultural tourism can be defined as "Agtourism," "Agrotourism," or "Agrotourism," which is the intersection between agriculture and tourism, an activity aimed at opening the farm to tourists and making it a destination for all for pleasure, recreation, education and the purchase of products 

The visitor to the farm may be from the same area of the farm, from other areas or from outside the country 

Agro-tourism and rural tourism offer many activities and programmes within and outside the farm, including, but not limited to, a tour in the farm, identifying and participating in the daily activities of the farm owners in agriculture, farm and animal care, local food tastings of farm goods, accommodation and participation in agricultural, national and private festivals and events. Also, Direct purchase of products through agricultural picking programmes, farm shop, etc 

Agricultural and rural tourism began to emerge in 1960 in Italy and began to grow and expand around the world gradually to have a significant impact on the world’s economy, one in tourism and the other on land sustainability, agricultural conservation, rural development, population, heritage, etc 

Nevertheless, agro-rural tourism remains a relatively new project in the social and economic transformation of rural populations and farmers 

The most important feature of the agro-rural tourism industry is the multiplicity of its activities, which helps to spread and develop them. Today, many governments, associations, tourism and agricultural companies and rural developers are interested in introducing local and traditional foods to rural areas and to the daily lives of rural people and farmers 

Benefits of agro-tourism

It is a promising and distinctive activity and investment to educate all members of society about the importance of rural areas and their investment in agriculture and tourism and to give effect to their role and contributions to the national economy 

•    It provides employment opportunities for young people, especially in rural areas 

•    It creates opportunities for farmers to increase their incomes and sustain their agricultural work, enhance the demand for traditional rural products, create value-added opportunities for working and producing families in rural areas, as well as stimulate all commercial and agricultural activities around tourist farms