An analysis of the factors that affect the sustainability of agritourism enterprises: A case study on EDL Agritourism Farm Inc.

• Main Author: Cruz, Marinel G.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2019
• Subjects: Agritourism—Philippines; Sustainable development—Philippines; Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations; Tourism and Travel
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6448; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/13506/viewcontent/Cruz_Marinel_Final_Thesis2.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Agritourism is becoming popular in the Philippines. It is considered as a sustainable strategy to revitalize Agriculture and Tourism industry as a result, many entrepreneurs became interested in venturing to this niche industry. Agritourism is any farm-related activities carried out on a working farm or other agricultural settings for education or entertainment purposes. Since Philippine Agritourism is on its development stage, limited information about sustainable Agritourism is available. This paper aims to shed light on the enigmatic realm of Agritourism sustainability. Using the EDL Agritourism Farm Inc. as the subject for this case study, the factors that affect Agritourism sustainability were identified through a series of interviews with the owner, employees, and industry experts. Furthermore, the impact of each factor on the fulfillment of the Agritourism enterprise’s economic, social, and environmental goals was investigated. The results of the study revealed that attributes of the Agritourism farm enterprise affect sustainability. Agritourism sustainability is achieved when the farm’s strategies are formulated to realize economic viability, social equity, and environmental preservation. It is exemplified through the establishment of appropriate organizational structure and optimal use of resources to create value and competitive advantage in consideration of seasonality and biological risks that affect the industry. The development of Agritourism sustainability also requires strong leadership as well as informed participation of relevant stakeholders to ensure wide participation and collaboration. Activities and processes must be aligned to sustainability principles that result in socio-economic benefits. Finally, the level of profitability and satisfaction indicate the ability to act upon its sustainable targets, therefore these factors must be monitored and managed well to ensure success and sustainability of the Agritourism enterprise. The true essence of Agritourism sustainability is realized when the younger generation is able to appreciate again the farming industry. Through Agritourism products, awareness on sustainable food production is raised. The strategies of an Agritourism enterprise must be formulated to act upon the attainment of that goal.