Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and Sustainability
This study explores the role of community-centered farm-based hospitality in promoting sustainable rural development, with a focus on South Tyrol, Italy. A survey of 461 local residents assessed perceptions of agritourism’s impact on agricultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and community...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1613 |
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| author | Miroslav Knežević Aleksandra Vujko Dušan Borovčanin |
| author_facet | Miroslav Knežević Aleksandra Vujko Dušan Borovčanin |
| author_sort | Miroslav Knežević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the role of community-centered farm-based hospitality in promoting sustainable rural development, with a focus on South Tyrol, Italy. A survey of 461 local residents assessed perceptions of agritourism’s impact on agricultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Factor analysis identified two main constructs—Agroheritage Sustainability and Empowered Eco-Tourism—which together capture the multifaceted benefits of agritourism. Agroheritage Sustainability reflects the preservation of traditional farming practices, cultural landscapes, and intergenerational knowledge, emphasizing the role of tourism in maintaining cultural identity and preventing land abandonment. Empowered Eco-Tourism highlights the socio-economic benefits of sustainable tourism, including community empowerment, environmental stewardship, and the creation of new economic opportunities. The study’s findings indicate that local residents view agritourism as a holistic approach that supports rural livelihoods while preserving cultural heritage and promoting ecological resilience. The analysis further supports the potential of farm-based hospitality as a model for sustainable rural development, aligning closely with EU policies and global best practices. The Roter Hahn initiative in South Tyrol serves as a practical example of this approach, demonstrating the value of certification programs in enhancing transparency, quality, and sustainability. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and tourism developers seeking to promote sustainable rural tourism globally. The contribution of this research lies in its empirical validation of a dual-construct model that links community engagement with agroecological and cultural sustainability, offering a transferable framework for evaluating agritourism as a lever for sustainable rural development in diverse regional contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe89a45d1a10485da3bf129b45c847ea |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe89a45d1a10485da3bf129b45c847ea2025-08-20T03:36:30ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-07-011515161310.3390/agriculture15151613Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and SustainabilityMiroslav Knežević0Aleksandra Vujko1Dušan Borovčanin2Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Singidunum University, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Singidunum University, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Singidunum University, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaThis study explores the role of community-centered farm-based hospitality in promoting sustainable rural development, with a focus on South Tyrol, Italy. A survey of 461 local residents assessed perceptions of agritourism’s impact on agricultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Factor analysis identified two main constructs—Agroheritage Sustainability and Empowered Eco-Tourism—which together capture the multifaceted benefits of agritourism. Agroheritage Sustainability reflects the preservation of traditional farming practices, cultural landscapes, and intergenerational knowledge, emphasizing the role of tourism in maintaining cultural identity and preventing land abandonment. Empowered Eco-Tourism highlights the socio-economic benefits of sustainable tourism, including community empowerment, environmental stewardship, and the creation of new economic opportunities. The study’s findings indicate that local residents view agritourism as a holistic approach that supports rural livelihoods while preserving cultural heritage and promoting ecological resilience. The analysis further supports the potential of farm-based hospitality as a model for sustainable rural development, aligning closely with EU policies and global best practices. The Roter Hahn initiative in South Tyrol serves as a practical example of this approach, demonstrating the value of certification programs in enhancing transparency, quality, and sustainability. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and tourism developers seeking to promote sustainable rural tourism globally. The contribution of this research lies in its empirical validation of a dual-construct model that links community engagement with agroecological and cultural sustainability, offering a transferable framework for evaluating agritourism as a lever for sustainable rural development in diverse regional contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1613agritourismagroheritage sustainabilityempowered eco-tourismSouth Tyrol |
| spellingShingle | Miroslav Knežević Aleksandra Vujko Dušan Borovčanin Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and Sustainability Agriculture agritourism agroheritage sustainability empowered eco-tourism South Tyrol |
| title | Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and Sustainability |
| title_full | Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and Sustainability |
| title_fullStr | Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and Sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and Sustainability |
| title_short | Community-Centered Farm-Based Hospitality in Agriculture: Fostering Rural Tourism, Well-Being, and Sustainability |
| title_sort | community centered farm based hospitality in agriculture fostering rural tourism well being and sustainability |
| topic | agritourism agroheritage sustainability empowered eco-tourism South Tyrol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/15/1613 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT miroslavknezevic communitycenteredfarmbasedhospitalityinagriculturefosteringruraltourismwellbeingandsustainability AT aleksandravujko communitycenteredfarmbasedhospitalityinagriculturefosteringruraltourismwellbeingandsustainability AT dusanborovcanin communitycenteredfarmbasedhospitalityinagriculturefosteringruraltourismwellbeingandsustainability |