Agritourism: a source for socio-economic transformation in developing economies

Abstract

This literature review aims to examine the influence of agritourism as a driver of socio-economic transformation in developing economies, with reference to Zimbabwe. It also aims to investigate the factors that impact the success of agritourism ventures in these contexts and how they can be applied to Zimbabwe. This conceptual paper employs an extensive examination of literature to assess how agritourism can catalyse socio-economic transformation in emerging economies, specifically with a focus on Zimbabwe. The literature review encompasses various themes, including the conceptual framework of agritourism, its advantages, challenges, and the factors influencing its success in promoting socio-economic transformation. The literature reveals that agritourism has the potential to generate employment for local communities, create additional income streams for farmers, and contribute to rural development. It can also play a significant role in poverty alleviation and promoting food security. Furthermore, agritourism fosters empowerment and entrepreneurship among farming communities, enabling them to capitalise on their agricultural resources, cultural heritage, and unique tourist attractions. Moreover, it promotes resilience and long-term economic growth by encouraging sustainable farming practices, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. However, the literature also identifies several challenges that may impede the growth of agritourism in developing economies, particularly in Zimbabwe. These challenges include inadequate supportive legislation, limited infrastructure on farms, insufficient marketing and branding initiatives, and restricted access to funding. The recommendations encompass the creation of comprehensive policies and regulatory frameworks, the establishment of funding mechanisms, the implementation of capacity-building programmes, and the adoption of effective marketing and promotion strategies. Overall, this literature review contributes to the existing knowledge by synthesising and analysing the literature on agritourism as a means of socio-economic transformation in developing economies, with a specific focus on Zimbabwe.