Theory of Agri-Tourism and ITS Practice in India

Agritourism is the incorporation of tourism with agriculture. It promotes agriculture and allied activities as a tourism product. Agri-tourism is a rural enterprise which incorporates an operational farm along with a commercial tourism element. It has been practised since many centuries but it was theoretically conceptualised in the last few decades. This concept was initiated and developed in Europe and North America, then to spread in many countries. In India it was initiated in 2005 at Malegaon village, near Baramati, Maharashtra by Agri Tourism Development Company (ATDC). The ATDC is promoting agritourism centres as well as initiating the development of concept of agritourism in India. It also caters to the needs of farmers by providing them training regarding skills and technical knowledge required to start and manage this venture at their farms. This paper is aimed at exploring the major theoretical concepts from various countries along with their similarities and dissimilarities with Indian Agri-tourism practices.