Sri Lanka can be an agricultural country and agriculture plays a essential role throughout the market of the united states contributing 12 GDP and 38 employment opportunities (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2010). Most the populace of the united states is rural areas and the livelihood of the majority of these people is directly or indirectly related with agriculture. However, agriculture now has reached a comparatively stagnation situation due to many problems in the sector such as high cost of production, low output of farm lands, poor marketing and processing facilities for agricultural products. Because of these problems, almost all of individuals are moving out of agriculture and migrating for metropolitan places finding jobs. This creates many socio-economic problems in rural as well as cities. Hence, adding extra income generating activities either through new businesses on the farm or off-farm career to preserve the field of agriculture would definitely enhance the economy of rural people. Among these activities is agritourism that can help to find extra income, employment, and economic stability on the existing belongings in a lasting way.
Agriculture is the most familiar industry for the rural people in the united states and also barriers to entry the agritourism are rather low as with comes under Small and Medium Organization (SMEs). Small-scale farms already have many of the assets that site visitors seek. It can absorb the excess labour available in rural areas. When these factors are concerned, agritourism is highly ideal for Sri Lanka.
5. 3. 1 Agritourism development in Sri Lanka
Looking at the existing situation in Sri Lanka, it is not specifically accepted for agritourism as a part of the tours. The government advertising of the field is relatively suprisingly low compare to other travel and leisure sectors. Concentrating to currently available agritourism options in Sri Lanka, a few of the major attractions will be the privately had farms such as CIC Plantation (Windsor area) in Hingurakgoda, Paradise Plantation Kitulgala, New Zealand Farm Nuwara-Eliya, Ceylinco Berry Farm Midigama will be the famous ones. Few local Community-based agro travel and leisure and Individual Functions are also in practiced in a tiny size (Malkanthi and Routray, 2012).
However, in the united states, the prospect of agritourism is high. There's a good agriculture sector in the country with attractive rural landscaping. Also variety in agricultural weather helping to cultivate different plants in different places, the country's sophisticated paddy-cultivation system, tea, plastic, coconut, berry farming and horticulture are a few examples of the diverse agritourism probable (Malkanthi and Routray, 2012). The united states has an agricultural heritage which is 2, 500 years old. Guests not only find out about modern agricultural functions but also appreciate traditional methods hired many centuries before. The historical irrigation systems include more than 25, 000 tanks ranging from small water bodies to those that are colossal, including the Parakrama Samudra in Polonnaruwa. The possibility to intertwine agritourism with history travel and leisure will definitely add more flavour to the niche-market experience. (Galappatti, 2012).
http://lmd. lk/2012/01/01/sustainable-tourism-3/
With the end of the conflict, provision of basic infrastructure such as street facilities, clean normal water, and electricity for most rural areas is currently going on effectively by the government. Country is financially and political steady and today peaceful. Furthermore, a huge quantity of local and foreign visitors travel across the country annually. Many of these site visitors can be easily captivated if the businesses are been able well. Resources rich culture and cultural diversity, physical characteristics, and socio-cultural entities, smiling faces, visitor friendly behavioural structure, and delicious culinary would essentially be helpful to advertise agritourism in rural Sri Lanka (Senanayaka an Wimalaratana, 2010). Hence, there is a possibility to give the vacationers a wider choice in Agritourism in the united states.
5. 4 Tourism plans in Sri Lanka
Tourism is a essential area in the policy framework of your country. The present government has determined tourism as a highly effective driving push in the country's socio financial development. The program's perspective for the tourism sector is "to make Sri Lanka the primary leisure destination in the Southern Asian Region" (Ministry of economic Development, 2010). This program thinks that the human resources, natural and cultural endowments beliefs and ethos will be fundamental in changing Sri Lanka into a centre of superiority and offer tourists the highest principles of authentic activities in its unique setting. http://www. sltda. gov. lk/
Tourism plan in Sri Lanka has a quite long record. At the early level (1960-1980) the guidelines were formulated focusing the development of mass travel and leisure in the united states. Since it was a major investment to perform a tourist operation with a lot of facilities, standard people couldn't get it done and so, almost all of the advantages of tourism in this period had opted to the affluent world such as main hotel owners and tour providers. But, with the release of sustainable travel and leisure concept in 1980's, a turning point of the tourism policies of the united states took placed. As a result of it, rural travel and leisure, ecotourism, nature travel and leisure like niche travel and leisure functions were initiated making the opportunity to engage in travel and leisure by the local community and get some benefits.
The Development Plan Framework of the Government of Sri Lanka is focused on a sustainable Tourism Development Strategy. Protection of the environment and distribution of monetary benefits to the larger cross portion of the society are key the different parts of this overall eye-sight. It aims at placing Sri Lanka as a model traveler destination benefiting from the country's natural benefits of getting the highest biodiversity in Asia guaranteed by a strong culture, historical artefacts, exotic beaches, renewable environment and friendly people which are solid blocks for travel and leisure development.
The Sri Lanka Visitor Board was the primary agency of charge in promotional and organizational tasks of the visitor industry in Sri Lanka until 2005. It had been the primary regulatory and administrative expert of tourism center development and activates in Sri Lanka as per the Tourism Development Work No. 14 of 1968. Under this Function, the Sri Lanka Visitor Board approves registers and license all tourist institutions and proposed trends. In the year 2005, Sri Lanka Travel and leisure Development Power (SLTDA) was set up under Section 2 of the tourism Work No. 38, as the apex body for Sri Lanka Tourism, changing the Sri Lanka Visitor Board. Presently, Sri Lank Travel and leisure Development Specialist is dedicated towards converting Sri Lanka to be Asia's leading travel and leisure destination by developing diverse, unique and quality tourism services that could make Sri Lanka as a unique destination on the planet. Recognizing and developing vacationer specific, unique products and services, getting ready and executing Travel and leisure Development Suggestions, and assisting and putting into action the legal and executive process for new services and products development are the primary responsibilities of it (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Power, 2010).
Exiting programs for the introduction of tourism industry in the united states are; Tourism Expert Plan, Sri Lanka in 1993, Southwest Coast travel and leisure and community infrastructure development study in 2000, Ecotourism Development Strategy of Sri Lanka in 2003 and Sustainable Tourism Get good at Plan, Northwest Coast Sri Lanka in 2006-2007 (Administration of Sri Lanka, 2007). The 'Tourism Development Strategy 2010-2016, the Future-Development Policy Framework is employing in the country successfully. The government believes the multiplier effect of tourism development in creation of employment opportunities and distribution of wealth through a variety of economic activities predominantly in the SME sector, taking the benefit of SMEs' having the ability to link micro companies from one area and large scale corporate sector on the other hand. The tourism sector has been identified among the key industries propelling the country's financial growth. According to the core beliefs of today's master arrange for tourism development, the best beneficiaries of tourism development strategy should be the people of the country: the farmers who supply rice, fruit and veggies, the fishermen who deliver the capture of your day, the craftsmen who produce souvenirs, the guides who escort the site visitors and the young men and women serving in the industry with the initial Sri Lankan hospitality.
5. 4. 2 Strategies involved
There is a superb range for promoting travel and leisure particularly within the region due to ancient and cultural ties of Sri Lanka with the South Asia, Middle-East and Far-East. Sri Lanka is part of a region which includes already industrialized economies such as Japan, Korea, and Singapore and speedily rising economies such as India and China which are capable of altering the monetary surroundings of the world through the next few generations. Sri Lanka also with its unique physical location, diversity, quality human resources, peace and balance has all the substances in spot to play an integral role in the local development as a fast emerging market current economic climate in Asia (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Expert, 2010).
The 'Tourism Development Strategy 2010-2020' is handling the wider important issues related to the industry including the government insurance plan, capacity and manpower build-up requirements, infrastructure development, improving service benchmarks, marketing and deals, regulations, guidelines, pr, tourist protection and improvements to domestic tourism (Desk 5. 4). On this ten year grasp plan, a number of important strategies that are going to be covered are creating a host conducive for travel and leisure, attracting the right type of tourists to the united states, ensuring that departing holidaymakers are happy, improving domestic travel and leisure and adding towards enhancing the global image of Sri Lanka (Travel and leisure Development strategy in Sri Lanka, 2010).
Table 5. 4 Summation of Tourism Plan strategies and targets
Source: The Department of National Planning of Sri Lanka, 2010
5. 4. 3 Insurance plan Framework to aid Buyers and the Industry
The authorities has resolved several insurance policy related conditions that are affecting the industry such as, (a) the recovery of a simple tax regime to acquire benefits for the stakeholder (b) simplification of licensing techniques to make easy and quick procedure to getting license (c) reduced amount of the high electricity tariffs to defeat to cost of travel and leisure operations (d) unification of the regulatory environment and creating an individual authority for tourism campaign to make effective and effective management mechanism, (e) creating opportunities to market shopping of internationally respected branded products and entertainment to enhance the quality benchmarks, (f) simplification of the investment authorization process by establishing of the "One Stop Shop" for travel and leisure related investments to inspire the buyers, (g) streamlining the process of alienating federal land for tourism development assignments to overcome the space problem, (h) getting internationally reputed vacationer hotels to enhance the typical of the industry and, above all (i) environmentally friendly, clean-city theory for metropolitan development to make cities attractive for the visitors,
(http://srilanka. travel/catalog/view/theme/default/image/pdf/English. pdf, 2012)
5. 4. 4 Ecotourism coverage in Sri Lanka
There is no separate coverage for agritourism or rural tourism. They are still under the ecotourism coverage guidelines. Ecotourism policy was formalized in the recent past and therefore, it offers a very short history. Using the expansion of the ecotourism sector and the related corporations, in yr 2003 administration has taken step one to build up the ecotourism sector by making use of the Norwegian Complex Assistance program and prepared the report "ecotourism coverage guidelines". It is a detailed document and all insurance plan aspects regarding ecotourism have been described clearly. The main top features of the plans have been summarized in the desk 5. 5. This national ecotourism policy describes the principles, objectives and activities that necessary to facilitate the introduction of a sustainable travel and leisure industry that contributes to resource conservation while optimizing economic benefits for the existing and future generations of the country. The polices have been put together as to help those involved in travel and leisure in Sri Lanka to ensure that the industry is developed, handled, and governed in a lasting manner, to appropriate standards. By highlighting the main requirements of ecotourism, it is intended that the restrictions will allow planning physiques to make fair and informal analysis of proposed ecotourism development, activities and facilities (Sri Lanka Visitor Board, 2003)
.
5. 4. 5 Need for Agritourism policy
As mentioned before, agritourism is comparable to ecotourism in a number of ways. Both are rural tourism sectors and topic tourism operations. They may have very close links with local residents, environment, rural development and local governments. So that, most of the aspects of agritourism development such as establishment, management, can be taken care of by the ecotourism coverage in the united states. However, when agritourism is concerned, it has a strong onward and backward links with one of the big sectors "agriculture". Agriculture is the backbone of the market of Sri Lanka. The ecotourism policy struggles to take care of the agricultural area of agritourism such as agricultural land management, lending options and credits, training and education, quality control of plantation products, marketing of agricultural goods and services etc. According to the present figures and future estimations of guests in the country in the section 6. 3, there will be a good demand for agritourism in near future. Moreover, as explained in the section 6. 2, today's visitors aren't content with many capabilities of agritourism operations anticipated to poor levels. Furthermore, in line with the section 6. 3 regarding the local residents' notion on the contribution of agritourism for the neighborhood development is not high. In this particular context to be able to have a much better satiation, it's important to have a separate group of insurance plan for agritourism development. Luckily for us, the current federal government has realized the importance of agritourism and it's been included in the future development agenda (Ministry of Fund and Planning, 2010). Therefore, it is timely important to pay attention on important policies right now to inspire the agritourism development in the country
Table 5. 4: Ecotourism Coverage in Sri Lanka
Aspect
Description
Principles of Ecotourism
1. Minimize & reduce negative environmental, sociable & cultural effects.
2. Optimize revenues for industry and then for re-invest in conservation.
3. Enhance the active participation of & equitable syndication of economic benefits to local neighborhoods.
4. Educate guests and residents about the importance of conserving Sri Lanka's natural & cultural heritages.
5. Promote honest behaviour & duties towards the type & ethnic environment.
6. Manage operations such that there are long-term advantages to the tool, industry and the neighborhood community.
7. Deliver a high quality, value-for-money, enlighten and participatory natural resource and culture-based experience for site visitors.
8. Encourage travel in a spirit of humanity, admiration and learning about local hosts, their culture and the natural environment.
Objectives of ecotourism
1. to promote & facilitate the development of ecotourism sites, activities and facilities in a fashion that is steady with the principles of ecotourism.
2. to teach all stakeholders about the idea of ecotourism, the monetary opportunities that it offers and the actions that are required to develop a successful industry in Sri Lanka.
3. to grow the number of ecotourism products, services and facilities available in Sri Lanka.
4. to improve the amount of Sri Lankans involved with ecotourism and accomplish the introduction of community-owned and supervised ecotourism businesses.
5. to donate to and influence a far more ecological form of tourism in Sri Lanka, through a diverse range of measures: bonuses, education, guidelines, polices and marketing.
6. to contribute to conservation of natural eco-systems.
Ecotourism plan interventions
1. In the planning and rules of the ecotourism sector.
2. In producing, managing and operating ecotourism facilities and activities.
3. In ecotourism at natural and cultural heritage sites.
4. In Community/local monetary development.
5. In conservation, education and awareness and
6. In Ecotourism implementation.
Source: Ministry of Travel and leisure, Sri Lanka, 2008
5. 4. 6 Agritourism Regulations in Other Countries
The development of agritourism increases substantial plan issues. Two reasons for this are that agritourism may generate significant externalities and that it's of considerable financial importance as an activity. Development insurance policies are decisions considered by the federal government for the improvement of particular sector/aspect of the country and agritourism development policies are decisions attracted by the federal government for the improvement of the agritourism sector of any country. Many countries that are executing agritourism have developed agritourism development insurance policies according with their own context. Many government firms have introduced regulations and programs with the purpose of pushing agritourism development. A wide variety of government regulations are crucial for the smooth functioning of agritourism Functions and lasting development in future. After reviewing the many plans and programs aimed at agritourisrm development, support can be categorized into three areas: financial assists, complex information and marketing strategies. These wide-ranging strategies have a tendency to promote agritourism development by affecting either source or demand.
Financial Aids
Incentive insurance policies and programs fond of increasing agritourism development have been launched in many countries (Hjalager, 1996; Frater, 1983). In Britain, the Farm Diversification Grant Scheme came into result in 1987 and provided financial assist with farm operators desperate to setup an ancillary business on or adjacent to their plantation (Gasson, 1988). This insurance policy was aimed at maintaining the farmer's income while the federal reduced support charges for agriculture products. However, the policy did not end up being successful, since many farm operators chose not to engage in the program (Ilbery, 1992; Gasson, 1988; Winter, 1987). Financial assistance for agritourism development is still provided throughout many parts of Europe (Williams, 1996; Greffe, 1994; Frater, 1985). In France, farmers can buy awards to finance the transformation of farm buildings (Greffe, 1994). In West Germany, school funding is available for agritourism center development within the context of town renewal and regional development programs (Williams, 1996). Specialists in Portugal, Belgium, Spain and ltaly also provide financial assistance for rural development. The Irish government created the Operational Program for Rural Development as a mechanism to diversify the rural economy (Williams, 1996). Originally this policy met with limited success, until it was revised in 1991 to expand its financial support and recognize a wider selection of participants (Williams, 1996; Reid et al. , 1993
Technical Information
Another kind of action considered by specialists is the provision of technological information and consultation services to farm operators. In america, the Small Business Administration arranged advisory and training services (Greffe, 1994). Workshops are devoted to such content as retail trade, home-based businesses, advertising of traveler products and managing businesses in the hospitality sector (Gustafson, 1997). In particular, the point out of NY has developed several publications about how to open and operate a plantation based foundation and breakfast business. Regulators in this express also have initiated conferences for agritourism fanners. These classes centered on issues such as "promoting and merchandising your business, "insurance and legalities", "making your business multi-seasonal and "thinking just like a tourist"(Williarns, 1996). In certain Europe, the systematic labeling of agritourism businesses has turned into a primary objective for some government bodies. Onicials in France, Germany and Austria have developed a nationwide system to ensure high expectations between al1 agritourism providers (Williams, 1996; Greffe, 1994). The guidelines used by specialists are very in depth and are firmly enforced. Many countries have sorted out information through workout sessions. The Nordic countries have responded to the needs of agricultural colleges by providing lessons through universities and universities (Greffe, 1994). In Austria, the Farm Holiday Connection provides workout sessions on tourism fads, marketing and sales, purchases and pr. These services are given for both farm operators as well as staff members (Embacher, 1994). German officials offer training sessions to local plantation operators which give attention to the needs of paying friends (Williams, 1996). In Wales, a specific program has been setup, "Getting into Rural Travel and leisure, which is supposed to teach people in the management of paying guests (Greffe, 1994).
Marketing Strategies
In many elements of the world, authorities agencies want to bridge the space between agritourism businesses and their customers by offering marketing support. Promotion could include such strategies as the introduction of brochures and also involvement in tourism trade shows. In Belgium, it's the Office de Promotion Touristique that assumes this marketing role (Greffe, 1994). It is the Austrian Farm Vacation Association that stimulates agritourism in Austria. This association is a w-operative marketing organization which links specific farm businesses over a local, provincial and federal level (Embacher, 1994; Bramwell, 1994). In France, the Gites De France Services, Logis de France Service and the WF Tourisme were al1 designed for marketing and advertising purposes (Greffe, 1994). The federal and state government authorities in Germany are instrumental to advertise farm-based accommodations, specifically for the small and medium-size farms. (Oppermann, 1996). The Australian State Tourism Industry Relationship plays an elaborate role in marketing and promoting host farms (AFACT, 1997). Finally, in New York State, the advertising and marketing of sponsor farms is completed through Farm Travel brochures (Hilchey, 1993).
5. 4. 7 Issues and Difficulties of the Agritourism sector in Sri Lanka
Firstly, durability, weaknesses, opportunities and dangers of agritourism were analyzed the operators perspective. From then on, these factors were also talked about with key informants and local government officers of the area to examine them in various point of views to get a complete picture of computer (Table 5. 5). Finally main difficulties (weaknesses and risks) were plainly identified.
Table 5. 5: SWOT Examination for policy related issues of agritourism using Providers, Key Informants and Local Government Officers
Strengths
Availability of farm land/s for the providers.
Use of traditional knowledge and skills in farming and agritourism activities.
Ability to utilize family labour
Ability to assimilate with other travel and leisure sectors and arts and crafts industry.
Positive attitude and enthusiasm of the operators
Weaknesses
Mostly small size farms
Problems on possession of some farm lands
Less variety in supply of agritourism
Lack of knowledge on overseas languages (especially British) of operators
Lack of necessary skills
Poor degree of processing of farm products
Problems with quality control of goods and services
Limited opportunity for direct selling of the produce
Poor promotion and campaign of operations
Opportunities
Natural scenic beauty, clean environment and attractive weather in farming areas
Availability of individuals learning resource (labour) for plantation and tourism work.
Some support form administration and some NGOs for the procedures (credit facilities/ training programs).
Support from residents (community participation).
Since agritourism is getting popular on the globe, boosting demand and prospect of expansion.
Up arriving supportive infrastructure development initiatives at countrywide and provincial levels.
Threats
Lack of corporation, a responsible power for development, marketing, facilitation and rules.
Unavailability of any common agritourism development finance at local level
Competition among agritourism operations
Lack of systematic taxation for agritourism operations
Weak management of negative influences.
Poor syndication of positive impacts
Tourism development by operators merely centered on income generation.
Poor degree of infrastructure facilities.
Insufficient federal government intervention
Monopoly of head to operators.
Lack of stakeholder cooperation.
Political influences
Low volume of visitors
Lack of community contribution and involvement readiness scheduled to low socio-economic conditions.
Insufficient capacity of local community to be a part of agritourism development
successfully.
Unavailability of insurance coverage for many destinations
Lack of research in agritourism
There are significant obstacles facing by the agritourism sector at present. This involves designation management method of come up with solutions resulted from a definite proper thinking process. Further, to totally realize the opportunities ensuring mutual benefits through travel and leisure, capitalize on strengths, understanding shared responsibility of industry stakeholders and communicates it correctly expecting strategic dedication from the industry.
5. 4. 8 Insurance plan Ideas for Agritourism Development in Sri Lanka
Policy formulation is a organized process. Identification of plan goal, formulation of policy objectives predicated on the coverage goals, knowledge of policy action for each policy aims and id of strategy for every single and every plan action is the general procedure. When a policy is produced, it is very important to check out all the steps of the process to have appropriate policies.
The coverage goal of this study was to reach the agritourism development in the united states. Based on the SWOT analysis, lots of issues (weaknesses and threats) of agritourism development were identified. In order to overcome these challenges, three broad coverage objectives were drawn as agritourism development, visitor satisfaction and community development. Under each insurance policy purpose, relevant problems, suitable policy recommendations and policy strategy for every single and every plan suggestion were made. Several conversations with school lecturers were conducted in this relation. Results are within the (Desk 5. 6).
5. 4. 8. 1 Comprehensive Policy Aims of the Development of Agritourism Sector
a. Agritourism Development in the Country
Agritourism can bring some support forever and wealth of the united states that is with the capacity of sound economic potential clients facilitating included development. It may require little additional investment and could utilize surplus capacity of labour, capital, land, and natural resources. A couple of potential benefits associated with agritourism for local agriculture and rural areas. Tourists generate money to local areas that keep rural areas alive and profitable. Partnering of travel and leisure and the green industry will help create and reinforce rural economics.
b. Visitor Satisfaction in Agritourism
Tourist satisfaction mainly reflected the service quality and is vital to the ongoing viability of any service business, including agritourism businesses. Therefore, concern on the aspect is important to successful vacation spot marketing because it influences the choice of destination, the intake of products and services, and the decision to return. Consideration should be on local and non local visitor satisfaction. It is vital to comprehend the areas such as how do visitors determine their satisfaction with tourist attractions as well as the factors influencing visitor satisfaction.
c. Community Development and Agritourism
It is clear that the diverse neighborhoods that require in agritourism seek good rewards because of their involvement, determination, and resources deployed for development. The proposed agritourism development should give attention to this aspect and become reasonable for delivering such rewards for the neighborhoods who actively take part in every aspect of agritourism from planning and development to procedures.
Table 5. 6: Policy Goals and Respective Coverage Suggestions and Strategies
Policy objective
Issues and challenges
Policy recommendation/s
(at different authorities levels)
Relevant Insurance policy Strategies
Policy aim 1
Agritourism development
Farm lands are small in size
Provision of lands for needy agritourism providers by the nationwide government
Distribution or long term leasing of administration lands
Provision of usage of public lands throughout the destination
Introduction of Community-based agritourism for the farmers
Networking of small size agritourism operators
Problems in the ownership of some farm lands
Provision of possession to the providers by the national government
Provision of real ownership or user right.
Avoid land disputes.
Lack of capital for agritourism development
Promotion of financial support systems by the national government
Loans at concession rate for medium and size farmers
Loans at normal interest for large-scale operators
Lack of knowledge and skills on agribusiness management
Provision of required education and training, it and related extension services for relevant workers by the provincial governments
Workshops, seminars, recognition programs, lectures on agritourism development and marketing should be conducted in suited time durations
Unavailability of any responsible specialist for development, facilitation and rules of agritourism
Formation of any Agritourism Management Group for relevant provinces by the provincial governments
Agritourism management group should include representatives of all the categories of stakeholders and it should be the in charge body for coordinating, development, marketing, facilitation and legislation of agritourism activities.
Low amount of visitors anticipated to poor degree of campaign and marketing of agritourism
Formation of marketing strategies by the Agritourism Management Group of the Province
National government recognized advertising and promotions
Marketing via websites, face booklet, attractive brochures, Tourism trade shows
Motivational deals for different periods (school vacations, Xmas, new yr) as well as different market segments like government officials, school children, private sector personnel, retired persons etc.
Unavailability of your common fund for agritourism development
Formation of common fund at regional level by Agritourism Management Band of the Province
Initiation of an association of agritourism providers and set up a finance, using member fees & taxes. Besides that obtain donations, NGO"s support, government grants etc.
Lack of control of agricultural products
Promotion of handling of agricultural tourism products by the Agritourism Management Group of the Province
Conduct annual competitions and award ceremonies for creation of possible agricultural travel and leisure products in the farm land.
Creation of your competition among agritourism operations
Reduction of your competition among agritourism procedures by transforming them supplementary places by the Agritourism Management Group of the Province
Motivate to boost uniqueness of the destination. Can select the best destination of the entire year.
Over use of some agritourism operations
Advice to follow the rule of having capacity by the Agritourism Management Group of the Province
Suitable quantity of tickets/day
limit the opening hours/day
Adjust the starting days/ month
Arrange the number of months/ conditions/ year
Lack of organized taxation for agritourism operations
Formation of proper taxation process of agritourism operations by the Agritourism Management Band of the Province
Annual enrollment of agritourism operations
Impose tax predicated on the size of procedure.
Weak control of negative environmental impacts of agritourism
Reduction the negative environmental influences and program of environmental coverage measures by making use of Agritourism Management Band of the Province
Estimate the price of impact and add it to the price tag on the nice or service (end user pay strategy)
Follow the ecological tourism development recommendations like organic farming, reduce, reuse, and recycle of resources
Monopoly of tour guides.
Formation of code of ethics for guides by the Agritourism Management Group of the province
List of dos and not dos to the travel guides
Political influences for the providers.
Formation of code of ethics for politicians by the Agritourism Management Band of the province
List of dos rather than dos to the travel guides
Lack of stakeholder cooperation.
Agritourism management group
Awareness programs and development of links among stakeholders.
Problem of seasonality in agritourism
Promotion of agritourism in off conditions by the Agritourism Management Band of the province
Organization of special off-seasonal plans for target categories of visitors.
Unavailability of Insurance policy for most destinations
Formation of suitable Insurance coverage for agritourism operations by the national government
Different suitable plans by federal government or semi-government insurance companies
Lack of research in agritourism
Arrangement of facilities to carry out research in agritourism by Agritourism Management Band of the province
Link with universities and research stations and carry out timely important research on important aspects of agritourism
Poor level in infrastructure facilities in agrutourism procedure areas
Development of infrastructure facilities with the cooperation of agritourism operators, local community, local, provincial and the national government
Develop rural streets. Resource new/more buses, bus terminus, car, taxis, hare autos, rail ways and trains.
Continuous water source by protecting natural resources of normal water such as springs, wells
Electrification of areas having agritourism operations
Safety and protection of visitors have to be developed using mobile authorities, Hotline quantities.
Health facilities need to be strengthen keeping connections with a medical center or medical officer
Banking facilities should be developed via mobile bank, authorized traders etc
Policy objective 2
Visitor satisfaction
Lack of quality control of the products and services
Formation of quality control mechanism specially for delicate issues such as health and sanitation by the Agritourism Management Band of the province
Provide training, education, accreditation programs
Introduce quality slandered for goods & services. Endorsement of the quality by accepted boards or organizations. Grading of places predicated on quality standards.
Lack of new tourism products and products diversification and immediate marketing of products
Motivation of operators for value additional opportunities for product development and immediate marketing activities by the Agritourism Management Group of the province
Awards, certificates for producers
Trainings and workshops
Short length of stay owing to low variety of tourism activities
Introduction of new appropriate tourism activities by the Agritourism Management Band of the province
Encourage operators to develop, enhance and maintain more and more possible agricultural and non-agricultural programs.
Provision of pre and post tour materials. Hosting cultural performances.
Policy objective 3
Community development
Lack of community participation and involvement readiness
Strengthen the hyperlink between agritourism and community development by promoting benefits associated with agritourism through formation of ahead and backward linkages by the Agritourism Management Band of the Province
Local residents' involvement in planning, organizing, implementation, analysis of agrutourism operations. Allocation of common resources for agritourism and distribution of benefit for majority
Facilitate to determine profitable links and partnerships between areas who are employed in agritourism and agritourism providers and other stakeholders through wider writing of positive impacts through the creation and maintenance of interpersonal infrastructures.
Lack of higher-level job opportunities for local residents.
Promotion of gainful job opportunities for local residents by the Agritourism Management Group of the Province
More job opportunities are for local residents. Ensure minimum income for labor. Income & job opportunities for ladies as well.
Insufficient capacity of neighborhood to be a part of agritourism development effectively.
Empowerment of community who are considering contribution in agritourism by the Agritourism Management Group of the Province with help of national government
Promote human source of information development of local community to provide the required manpower through education and training.
Capacity building of them.
Insufficient authorities intervention
Arrangement of regular progress meetings with the nationwide and provincial governments and obtain necessary facilities by the Agritourism Management Band of the Province
Explain the importance of agritourism and request for necessary support
Irresponsible behavior of some visitors
Formation of liable code of tendencies for agritourism tourists by the Agritourism Management Group of the Province
List of code of ethics for visitors
Monetary moves and income leakages form the area
Introduction of moral consumption strategy to the tourists by the Agritourism Management Band of the Province
Use of local products and services at an increased level in vacation spots. Local makers and suppliers can be motivated.
Poor contribution of agritourism for local development
Introduction of Cooperate Sociable Responsibility (CSR) for the agritourism providers by the Agritourism Management Band of the Province
Support for community development programs in the area.
As discussed before, extension of agritourism should be given high goal to bolster it to get high potential to add for the socio-economic development. Hence, it is essential to determine an explicit insurance plan to enhance quality and harmonious of agritourism enabling its diverse stakeholders to take part in the progress successfully in an orderly and disciplined manner. In addition, agritourism development should be an results of designed and coordinated work of general public, private, non- authorities organizations, and the city.
Stimulates inter-sartorial linkages (such as art and build, cottage sectors, indigenous remedies and local culture) and multiplier results interactions among friends and host community that leads to share benefits, materials, sociable, and personal need to be developed. Community sector involvement is essential as politics will becomes an important dimensions in insurance plan and planning. This participation sits on the areas such as providing general population utilities, facilitation, research & education, vacation spot marketing, coordination, planning, financing, regulation, controlling and monitoring.
Benefits of agritourism development should reach local areas. The neighborhoods may entail either straight or indirectly in agritourism development of the united states. This involvement must be inspired and facilitated as certain neighborhoods require capacity advancements. The necessary mechanisms must properly be placed for building recognition on potential effects in both positive and negative ways. Arrange for unique and specific agritourism sights highlighting the cultural compatibility, cultural acceptability, environmental friendly, economical viable forms of development that induces better understanding and education through visitation. Agritourism development may be used to sustain the growth on the long run through gradual development in order to foster better adoptability and ideal utilization of rural resources focusing on for better rural development.
5. 5 Chapter Summary
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country in South Asia and it is famous for its tourism for several ages as it has a favourable situation for travel and leisure industry. There are a lot of tourism natural and synthetic attractions in the united states. Although there was a casual management of the industry until 1960's, after establishment of Sri Lanka Visitor Plank in 1966, there was a good management and development. In such a prided, main emphasis was paid to build up the mass travel and leisure sector. Using the development of the industry, a substantial contribution was there for the countrywide development. With all the introduction of lasting tourism concept in 1980's, tourism industry of the country was expanded scheduled to establishment of niche travel and leisure such as ecotourism, nature tourism, culture travel and leisure etc.
However, 1983- 2009 was a bad period in the travel and leisure industry of the country as there is a civil conflict. Tourism industry collapsed in many areas anticipated to lack of demand. Again with the closing of the battle, now tourism is developing speedily. Federal government of Sri Lanka has paid very high focus on develop the industry as a main source of nationwide income. Not only that, but also present administration has indentified the probable of travel and leisure as a very good rural development strategy in getting ecological development. Thus, several mass and rural travel and leisure development tasks and programmes have been release with appropriate regulations. Though agritourism also offers a significant attention, identical to other rural travel and leisure sectors, still it is under ecotourism sector. As there is a good potential to develop agritourism in rural areas, suited agritourism coverage will be highly useful.
When assessing the tourism plan in Sri Lanka, it has a quite long background. At the first stage (1960-1980) the insurance policies were formulated centering the development of mass tourism in the country. Since it was a large investment to run a tourist procedure with lots of facilities, ordinary people couldn't do it and so, the majority of the great things about tourism in this period had opted to the affluent modern culture such as main hotel owners and tour operators. But, with the advantages of sustainable travel and leisure notion in 1980's, a turning point of the tourism policies of the united states took placed. As a result of it, rural travel and leisure, ecotourism, nature tourism like niche travel and leisure businesses were initiated making the chance to engage in travel and leisure by the neighborhood community and get some good benefits. As agritourism is the latest sector of the tourism industry of the country, insurance policies haven't been produced yet.
