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53IMPROVING MECHANISM OF AGRO-ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Oybek Zoirovich Khaydarov
Department of Tourism, Samarkand Institute of Economics and Service
ABSTRACT
Agro-ecotourism is a network of the tourism industry aimed at the use of natural, cultural, historical and other resources of rural areas and its features to create a complex tourism product. A positive social component of rural tourism is to provide employment for the rural population in the field of rural services. Therefore, the development of this direction can be considered as a way of social development of rural areas. This article discusses the role of agro-ecotourism in rural areas, economic and financial mechanisms for the development of agro-ecotourism, as well as the potential economic benefits and costs of agro-ecotourism for the regions of Uzbekistan.
Keywords: agriculture, agro-ecotourism, economic development, industry.
INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, the rural population of Uzbekistan is more than 17 million people (49.3% of the total population) [1]. Industrialization and development are mainly focused on urban-centric in this country. Urban stress has led to growing interest in the rural areas. In this context agro-ecotourism is a new concept in the tourism industry. It normally occurs on farms and is associated with the agriculture. It is the symbiotic association of farming sector, tourism industry and farm business. It can create the job opportunities for the rural people. The concept of agro-ecotourism entails visiting a working farm or any agriculture, horticulture or agribusiness operation, for the purpose of leisure, refreshment, recreation, education and active involvement in the activities of the agriculture including agricultural operations, fishing, dining and celebrating local festivals with the farming communities. The development of agro-ecotourism is primarily aimed to give awareness and knowledge on conservation of environment and natural resources in a participatory mode with farmers and to improve their socioeconomic status.
Agro-ecotourism has enormous potential to boost economic growth, especially in rural areas. Increasing environmental awareness, interest in culture and heritage, improving the comfort of villages, etc. are the factors that change the trend of agro-ecotourism. According to this scheme, the main geographical areas for the development of agro-ecotourism have been identified. Uzbekistan has a huge potential for agro-ecotourism due to its unique heritage, culture and natural attractions. Agro-ecotourism can create new jobs in rural areas, attract more young people to rural jobs, and slow down the migration of rural people to cities. Indeed, economic activity occurs when
people associate travel with agricultural products, services, or experiences to meet mutual needs. Agro-ecotourism provides an opportunity to experience a truly fascinating and genuine connection with rural life, to taste traditional food, and to gain experience in a variety of farming activities.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Agro-ecotourism is a niche tourist activity that evolved from the discipline of agroecology. Agro-ecotourists travel to learn about the ecological processes of agriculture. Agro-ecotourism has also been proposed as an economic development strategy for farmers as well as their communities in Costa Rica [2], Belarus [3], Italy [4], Korea [5], and Taiwan [6]. Cavaliere defines agro-ecotourism as 'a grassroots ecotourism movement where economically profitable community-based initiatives meet sustainable agriculture systems [7]. While the environmental, economic, and social benefits of agro-tourism are documented, the notion of agro-ecotourism differs, in that the visitors hold interest in the biodiversity practices of the farm [8]. In their study estimating agro-tourists' maximum willingness to pay for organic farming activities in Taiwan, Kuo et al. in 2006 found that eco-organic tourism may be the optimal activity to link organic agriculture with tourism over four other hypothetical rural tourism scenarios [9]. Based on field work in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Australia, Peru, Thailand, Tanzania, New Zealand, and the United States, Cavaliere in 2010 presents evidence that agro-ecotourism can produce various benefits such as: job creation, education and capacity-building, community involvement, business viability, a more even distribution of revenue streams, sustainable supply chain linkages, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration, and a decrease in agrochemical use [7]. The tenants of ecotourism differ agro-ecotourism from traditional agro-tourism, in that agro-ecotourism incorporates ecotourism principles: it is an activity that is nature-based, focused on learning -particularly about natural resources and human interaction with the resources, is non-consumptive, ethically managed and low impact, locally oriented in its control, benefits and scale, and contributes to conservation [10]. Most farm tourism and agro-tourism definitions include agricultural setting (i.e. implying a nature-based setting) and education. However, there are other mixed associations with concepts such as entertainment, authenticity, direct and indirect farming activities, hospitality services, outdoor or commercial recreation, and or merely something done on a farm [11].
RESEARCH RESULTS
The role of agro-ecotourism in the development of rural areas
Rural tourism is one of the fastest growing economic segments dealing with the challenges and opportunities of the global competitive market [12]. Sustainable development is generally understood as a holistic concept with a complex interrelationship between the social, economic and environmental aspects of
development [13]. We can see different aspects of agro-ecotourism in the development of rural areas below:
1. Economic aspect:
• preferential use of inexpensive resources (natural, socio-cultural and historical heritage);
• in the context of declining rural areas and the crisis of the agricultural sector, agro-ecotourism serves as a source of income for the rural population;
2. Socio-cultural aspect:
• interaction of the rural population with citizens (the effect of psychological and cultural mutual enrichment in communication);
• the self-esteem of the rural population is increasing due to the demand from the local community.
3. Ethnocultural aspect:
• opportunity to activate cultural and historical resources;
• distribution and promotion of cultural national traditions.
4. Personal aspect:
• personal development primarily includes: acquiring new knowledge, skills and
etc.;
• increasing an individual's self-esteem: understanding independence, supporting their own strengths and economy.
The development of agro-ecotourism in the community means that the community plays a key role in the development of tourism. Villagers can specialize in certain activities such as raising cattle, planting vegetables, producing local handicrafts, and organizing cultural events and entertainment events. Localization of the supply chain encourages the use of local labor and local materials to bring maximum benefit to the community [14].
A key factor in success in the development of agro-ecotourism is the support of the local population and access to natural attractions [15]. The local community should be involved in the planning and development of tourism, especially when it comes to developing segments of the tourism community that benefit the community. Such an approach to planning should be applied locally [16].
According to Almstedt, Lundmark and Pettersson [16], tourism planning needs to be integrated into regional and local development goals for tourism to benefit entire rural areas. Some researchers point to the challenges of developing tourism in certain areas, such as declining rural populations, declining rural services, and declining interest in rural areas.
Financial and non-financial mechanisms of agro-ecotourism development
Jarábkova, Majstríková and Kozolka noted that the self-governing region is responsible for tourism policy at the regional level [17]. It formulates the goals of this
policy in strategic documents, usually in a regional strategy for tourism development over a period of time. It can use any set of mechanisms to achieve these goals. Objectives can be divided into two groups according to their nature: financial and non-financial (Table 1).
Table 1. Financial and non-financial mechanisms of agro-ecotourism development
Financial mechanisms Non-investment and investment instruments (subsidies, grants, loans and bank guarantees)
Capital cooperation
Tax benefits (tax holidays or reduction of tax rates)
Budget allowance
Non-financial mechanisms Administrative tools (development of legislation and general construction rules)
Institutional tools (regional and local strategic documents and development plans of higher territorial structures and municipalities)
Guidance
Promotion (marketing)
Potential economic benefits and costs of agro-ecotourism for the regions of Uzbekistan
In general, the potential economic benefits of agro-ecotourism in the regions of Uzbekistan have not yet been developed. In our view, the potential economic benefits of this agro-ecotourism can be divided into six broad categories, namely:
- agro-ecotourism can bring benefits of economic diversification at the farm level and national economy;
- the potential to promote the growth of demand for agricultural products in domestic and export markets;
- the potential contribution of this product to reducing risk and ensuring the sustainability of farm incomes;
- the potential to connect with other sectors of the rural economy, offering multiplier and spread effects;
- agro-ecotourism is service-oriented and therefore creates benefits for employment and job creation [1-5].
The main potential economic costs of agro-ecotourism can be divided into four categories:
- If agro-ecotourism is not supported by policy or legislation, it can lead to a reduction in agricultural production. In any case, there is a need for special incentives to maintain a balance in food production;
- In the absence of properly regulated environmental standards, there is a risk that high environmental costs associated with the tourism industry will be transferred to agricultural costs;
- There is a risk of bio-piracy if a large number of visitors / tourists are allowed in rural communities in Uzbekistan. There are a number of very important native species of plants and animals that need to be protected in Uzbekistan;
- Farms may have high infrastructure costs that meet sanitary and other health and safety requirements.
As mentioned above, agro-ecotourism can be developed as a type of strategic economic activity in rural areas of Uzbekistan [6-9]. However, there are a number of factors that limit the development of this economic activity. These factors can be classified under the following five main headings:
- insufficient institutional mechanism for the development of agricultural and tourism relations;
- insufficient grounds for using the potential for sustainable trade in agricultural goods and services within the tourism industry;
- limited identification, promotion and introduction of new and unique agro-ecotourism products;
- inadequate trained stakeholders in the technical and managerial aspects of agro-ecotourism;
- lack of public awareness and development and implementation of sensitization programs [10-15].
CONCLUSION
The agricultural sector has the potential to provide tourism with creative, new, community and farm-based products and services, improve and expand the supply of tourism products, and create living conditions for the poor in rural communities. Linking agriculture to tourism can therefore provide an opportunity for both sectors to have a positive impact on the economy and make them more sustainable and competitive [16-19].
In this context agro-ecotourism is an element within sustainable agriculture that addresses the acute threat to biodiversity by increasing landscape diversity, implementing the core principles of ecotourism and incorporating the essential practices
of agriculture and permaculture. Agro-ecotourism provides important opportunities for tourists to develop market gaps for consumers based on new food and nutrition experiences derived from traditional crops and new educational experiences through exposure to various agricultural production systems reaches.
Agro-ecotourism can be successful in rural and remote areas where alternative sources of livelihood are scarce and poverty is high [20-23]. This can provide a much-needed addition to local income from activities that value and support conservation. However, local communities need to be involved in planning it and the benefits it brings, and if it is to be economically sustainable and to improve the geography of the place, its environment, culture, aesthetics and heritage, attention must be paid to sound business planning and market access.
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