Motivation for Agri-Tourism Entrepreneurship

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to reveal the motivations for agri-tourism entrepreneurship among Virginia farm families and to explore Weber’s theory of formal and substantive rationality as a possible theoretical framework for agritourism entrepreneurship motivation. Results of this study support the use of Weber’s theory of formal and substantive rationality as a framework for the dynamic nature of motivations for agri-tourism entrepreneurship between formal (primarily economic) reasons and substantive (primarily socio-cultural) reasons. Respondents indicated that Virginia farm families owned small farms, utilized farming as a secondary income source, and indicated their most popular agritourism activities to be pick-your-own produce, Christmas tree sales, hayrides, children’s educational programs, petting zoos, and on-farm festivals. Agri-tourism planners should be aware that acres owned, economic dependence on farming operation, and perceived popularity of agri-tourism activities are influential factors to motivate agri-tourism entrepreneurs.

Examining the motivations for social entrepreneurship using Max Weber’s typology of rationality

“…In discussing the present relevance of Weber's rationality, Boudon (1997) emphasized the need to focus on the distinction between the formal and substantive. In fact, Weber (1978) Kim, 2004;McGehee and Meares, 1998), the present study focuses on formal and substantive rationality.…”

Agritourism: A Possible Alternative to Zimbabwe’s Tourism Product?

“…The combination of the prefix agri and the noun tourism resulted in the formation of a new word that means tourists activity whose aim is to familiarise oneself with farming activity and recreation in an agricultural environment (Sznajder, Przezborska, & Scrimgeour, 2009). However, it should be noted that farm vacation tourism is not the same as agritourism but is a segment within the realm of agritourism that includes only the accommodations sector of tourism (Mcgehee & Kim, 2004;Pizam & Poleka, 1980;Weaver & Fennell, 1997).…”

“…It has been defined by Beall (1996) as an alternative farming enterprise that is a business conducted by a farm operator for the enjoyment and education of the public to promote the products of the farm and thereby generate additional farm income. On the other hand, Mcgehee and Kim (2004) articulated that agritourism is understood differently by tourists and providers of agritourist services. For a tourist, agritourism means familiarizing oneself with agricultural production or recreation in the agricultural environment or it may include an opportunity to help with farming tasks during the visit.…”

“…Agritourism includes a variety of participant, educational, and spectator experiences including outdoor recreation like fishing, wildlife, photography, hunting, horseback riding, educational experiences (farm and cannery tours, cooking classes, wine tasting, cattle drives or help work in the farm/ranch), entertainment (harvest festivals or corn mazes), hospitality services (farm and ranch stays, guided tours, or outfitter services), on farm direct sales (u-pick your own operations or roadside stands) and off the farm direct sales (farmers markets, country and state fairs, special events) (Mcgehee & Kim, 2004). These activities can be divided into three broad themes that are fixed attractions, events, or services.…”

An analysis of consumer preferences for bed and breakfast in the eco-agritourism activities

“…In both developed and developing countries, tourism, eco-tourism and agritourism are frequently considered to be a sustainable way of raising the economic activity of regions (Ceballos, 1995, Surendran andSekar, 2010;Tew and Barbieri, 2012;Koutsouris et al, 2014;Chiu et al, 2016). A recent trend in this regard is the utilization of natural resources for tourismto diversify income, and to reduce risks that are an inherent nature of agriculture, ecosystem services, and biodiversity (Nickerson et al, 2001;McGehee and Kim, 2004;Che et al, 2005;Surendran and Sekar, 2011;Tew and Barbieri, 2012;Barbieri, 2013). Agritourism is defined "as embracing the full range of products and services, development options and marketable linkages possible across the AgriFood-Tourism value chain, including those tourism products developed for rural/urban/agricultural environments" (Harvey, 2001).…”