Caribbean Agrotourism DevelopmentInitiatives & Opportunities
Agrotourism Unit - Barbados
Roxanne Waithe
Overview
• IICA/OAS Agrotourism Project
• Caribbean agrotourism initiatives
• Opportunities for growth• Opportunities for growth
• Critical issues for development
• IICA Agrotourism Strategy
WHAT IS AGROTOURISM?WHAT IS AGROTOURISM?
Agrotourism refers to any activity, enterprise or business that links
agriculture with products, services and experiences in services and experiences in
tourism.
DIMENSIONS OF DIMENSIONS OF AGROTOURISMAGROTOURISM
Health & Wellness Tourism
Community Tourism
Farm-Based Tourism
Culinary Tourism
Agro-trade (Agribusiness)
Agro-Heritage Tourism
WHAT IS AGROTOURISM?WHAT IS AGROTOURISM?
Agrotourism Product Portfolio
Fixed Attractions Events Services
•Historic Plantations
•Agricultural museums
•Agricultural fairs
•Local festivals
•Farm tours
•Rural Bed & Breakfast
•Village rum shops
•Herb/Exotic Gardens
•Produce & Craft Markets
•Special events•Spas
•Alternative medicines
•Agro-processing
•Agro-trade with Tourism Operators
OAS FUNDED AGROTOURISM AGROTOURISM
PROJECT
IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM PROJECTPROJECT
GOAL OF THE PROJECT
Promote increased linkages between Tourism and Agriculture that will create economic
opportunities, build resilience in rural communities and enhance the sustainable communities and enhance the sustainable
development of both the tourism and agriculture industries
IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM PROJECTPROJECT
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
BarbadosDominicaGuyanaJamaicaJamaica
St. Kitts & NevisSuriname
Trinidad & Tobago
IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM PROJECTPROJECT
OAS COMMITTMENT
US$444,000 over three years to be equally disbursed among seven
participating countries.
IICA Barbados – Executive Office charged with
implementing program
Mrs. Ena Harvey – Hemispheric Specialist,
Agrotourism , IICA
IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM PROJECTPROJECT
PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES YEAR 1 (2005 -2006)
Agrotourism Inventory of products and services
Survey Data on demand and supply
Case Studies and Videos covering at least 30 Success stories and Best Practices
IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM PROJECTPROJECT
PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES YEAR 2(April 2007 – March 2008)
•Diagnostic Tool for assessment of agrotourism initiatives
•Business modules for agrotourism investment opportunities
•On-site training and reciprocal visits between tourism industry personnel and rural communities across countries
IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM IICA/OAS AGROTOURISM PROJECTPROJECT
PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES YEAR 3(April 2008 – March 2009)
•A Marketing and Promotional programme will be designed and implemented.
•A Website for Caribbean Agrotourism products and services
•An Action Plan for the sustained development of Agrotourism Linkages
Caribbean Agrotourism Initiatives
Country snapshots
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:BARBADOSBARBADOS
FARM TO TABLE PROGRAM – TASTE OF BARBADOS
Farmers and Competing Chefs partner for Best Big Bajan BBQ
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:BARBADOSBARBADOS
GAPS & HACCP TRAINING FOR AGRICULTURAL & TOURISM WORKERS
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:BARBADOSBARBADOS
FARM BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:DOMINICADOMINICA
3 RIVERS ECOLODGE – AGRO-ECOTOURISM MODEL
• Stay on the farm
• Visit organic herb farm or dasheen & root vegetable farm
• Help out in the local village • Help out in the local village primary school
• Coffee and cocoa picking
• Learn & DO traditional farming methods
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:DOMINICADOMINICA
MACOUHERIE AGRO-HERITAGE PROJECT
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:DOMINICADOMINICA
The JTAS Experience
• Waitukubuli – Kalinago Heritage Village
• Culinary & rum tours
• Rainforest tours & hikes
• Health & Wellness - bubbling sulphur mud baths
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:GUYANAGUYANA
COMMUNITY TOURISM PROJECT – NORTH WEST ORGANICS
• Organic cocoa & chocolate stick production
• Commercialization of cassava products into • Commercialization of cassava products into cassava bread & casareep
• Collection & processing of seed from the crabwood tree into therapeutic oils & creams
•Tree regeneration program for heart of palm tree
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:GUYANAGUYANA
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:GUYANAGUYANA
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:JAMAICAJAMAICA
EU FUNDED BUFF BAY AGROTOURISM
PROJECT
• Camp site• Hiking• Farm stays• Maroon heritage • Maroon heritage
site• Coffee tours• Bee keeping
tours• Community events
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:JAMAICAJAMAICA
TELEPHONE
Area covered by Land line service - (Cable
& Wireless)
Tranquility – Charles Town - Gap in potab
supply (no operational supply lines)
Key: Village (Small district)
Town/Community
BUFF BAY ISSUES
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:St. KITTS & NEVIS St. KITTS & NEVIS
•The Nevis Growers Association, which involves 25 rural families, has a long standing arrangement with the Four
Seasons Hotel since 1992.
•St. Kitts Farmers’ Cooperative Society •St. Kitts Farmers’ Cooperative Society (SFCS) recently signed an MOU with the largest hotel, St. Kitts Marriott to supply
agreed quantities of vegetables/fruits on a regular basis (November 2007)
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:ST. KITTS & NEVIS ST. KITTS & NEVIS
FARM BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENTCADES BAY – 40 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND
•Farm tour•Restaurant•Produce Market
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:SURINAMESURINAME
Agrotourism Project – Bergendal Eco & Cultural River Resort
Project consists of two components:
•45 Lodges along the Suriname River
•Heritage Village & Historical Trail
AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:AGROTOURISM SNAPSHOT:TRINIDAD & TOBAGOTRINIDAD & TOBAGO
TOCO FOUNDATION –AGROTOURISM MODEL
•Farmers Training Institute
• Hospitality & Accommodation CentreAccommodation Centre
• Turtle protection
• Eco-tours
• Environmental Protection
Opportunities for growthgrowth
Agro-trade – special produce
Goodfellows Farm –Nassau, Bahamas
• Supplies mini-greens for hotels
Agro-trade – Farmers’ Markets
• Community based markets
• Public markets
Not just for fruits & vegetables.
It’s an attraction!
Agro-processing: tourism sector
Food & Beverage –Signature foods
• Juices, bar mixes
• Bottled coconut water• Bottled coconut water
• Herbal teas
• Frozen seafood & vegetables
• Baked goods
• Jams, jellies, sauces
Agro-processing: tourism sector
Hospitality Services
• Manufacture of ‘natural’ mosquito repellants
• Manufacture of local • Manufacture of local confection for turn-down service
• Local gift baskets
• Local crafts for gifts, souvenirs or in-room decor
Agro-heritage: Investment in the Old Agriculture
• Sugar Museums
• Life on Cocoa & Coffee PlantationsCoffee Plantations
Culinary tourism – unique experiences
• Village cook shops
• Food stalls • Food stalls (roadside)
• Rum shops
• Food festivals
Farm-based Tourism
• Farm tours
• Farm stays
AGRICULTURENO AGROTOURISM POLICY
COMPETITION FOR LAND USE
CHALLENGES FOR AGROTOURISM DEVELOPMENT
TOURISM
HOTEL IMPORTS - FOOD
NEED FOR AGRI-PRENEURS
1. Establish National Agrotourism Committees in each member state
2. Promote formulation of agrotourism policies for each member state
IICA CARIBBEAN AGROTOURISM STRATEGY
each member state
3. Provide technical support through training, research and community engagement
4. Establish a Caribbean Agrotourism Resource Centre
AGROTOURISM UNIT AGROTOURISM UNIT --
BARBADOSBARBADOS
Roxanne Waithe
IICA Barbados
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 246 427 4740/1/2