Transcript Document

AGRITOURISM ON STATIA
LET’S MAKE IT WORK!
Roxanne Waithe
Agrotourism Specialist, IICA Barbados
Presentation Outline
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Definitions: Agritourism
Agro-ecotourism
Profile of an agro-ecotourism traveller
Caribbean success stories
Opportunities for Statia
Making it work
Agritourism
Agrotourism
Any activity, enterprise or business that
links agriculture with products, services
and experiences in tourism.
Ecotourism
Responsible travel to natural areas that
conserves the environment and
improves the well-being of local people.
Agro-ecotourism
Travel to rural farming communities that strive
to protect their natural and man-made resources
by using eco-friendly agricultural practices
Farm Tours
Rural B & B
Health &
Wellness: Spas,
Local remedies
Culinary
Tourism
Community
festivals
Historic
plantations &
agri-museums
Agro-trade
(Agribusiness)
Culinary experiences enhance All
tourism assets
“...All travellers eat and drink
... Therefore food and drink
have a greater ability to make
long-lasting memories than any
other kind of tourism
experience ….”
Eric Wolf - President, International Culinary Tourism
Association Publisher, FoodTrekker.com
Profile of an Agro-ecotourist
Ainley & Smale
Journal of Rural and Community
Development (2010)
• 35 – 55 years old
• Educated to post high
school diploma or
university level
• Middle income – less
affluent than luxury
traveller
• Not likely to have
dependent children under
12
What are agro-ecotourists looking for?
• Participate in food
production (and
consumption)
• Learn about the lives
of rural people
• Escape the hustle of
the city
• Connect with nature
Agriculture
Nature
Heritage
Adventure
Who is making it work in our region?
Caribbean Agro-ecotourism
Initiatives
Recent developments:
IICA/CARICOM/OAS Agrotourism Conference
Sep 20 – 22, 2011
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Agrotourism Committee
• Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry
and Fisheries (MARTFF)
• Ministry of Tourism and Industry (MTI)
• Ministry of Rural Transformation, Information et al
• Inter-America Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
(IICA)
• Hotel Association
• Taxi Driver’s Association
• WINFA
• SVG Bureau of Standards (SVBS)
• Taiwan Technical Mission
• Cruise lines reps./Tour operators
National Agrotourism Project – SVG
Component
1
Assessment of sites for potential agro-ecotourism
development
2
Sanitary and safety equipment installed
3
Training workshops
4
Tour Routes Established and labeled
5
Promotional Materials Developed
6
Sites HACCP and ISO certified
7
Modification of present facilities to accommodate
visitors
8
Project Evaluation
Project Sites
The national Agrotourism programme obtained
funding (US$53,990) from the Organisation of
American States (OAS) to develop the following
sites:
• The Orange Hill Agricultural Cooperation Farm
supported by Taiwanese Farmers
• The Cassava and Arrowroot Factories at Orange
Hill
• Everdale Farms at Wallilabou
• The Fruit Treecrop Germplasm Bank at Peter’s
Hope
• The National Properties Farm at Mt Wynne
Project Status
Five training courses
completed:
• Tools and safety equipment
bought
Hospitality and Customer Service
• 300 labels/signs for trees
Health and safety – Basic First Aid
and Managing Emergency and
evacuation on a farm
• 3 story boards completed
Food preparation and Handling on
farm tourism sites
• Rehabilitation of Building at
Peters Hope
Tour guiding
Business Management and
Marketing
• Fencing and Provision of
Security Bars and Grills for
Site
Agrotourism
in
Grenada
Grenada’s Agro Tourism Product/Service
Initiatives by Segments
• Flamboyant & La Source hotels – farming contracts with
farmers; Spice Isle Resort/Farmer Arrangements – Over
EC$1 million in agricultural produce traded(high
Multiplier Effect )
• Agro- Processors’ products used in tourism promotions
by Grenada Board of Tourism - De La Grenade
products(jams jellies, syrups liqueurs etc) Rums, Flowers,
coconut sweet products
• 80% of Fresh Vegetable needs by a hotels are supplied
locally but nearly 100% of meat needs are imported.
o Development of Gouyave Town(West Coast) as a Fish
Friday Centre- weekly fish fry night, art, craft, local
entertainment
o Mt. Moritz Breakfast @EC$10.00 –traditional West Indian
breakfast serving salt fish, fried jacks, bakes, juice, cocoa
tea etc. every last Sunday of the month
o St Mark’s Food Festival –local foods served in the parish
every last Saturday of the month
o Parish festivals –Fisherman’s Birthday, Rainbow City
Festival, St. Patrick’s Day, Sailing Festivals Day, Tivoli
Saraca etc. where local foods are predominately featured
Financial and Socio-economic Impacts
National Assessment on the Gouyave Fish Friday
(2007)
• Revenue/Earnings: the total dollar impact was
approx. one million EC dollars/annum
• Increased fish catch and sales
• Increased sale of produce and groceries by the
shops and super markets in the community
• Social impacts: employment and job
creation(hiring of assistants, entertainers etc.)
• Enhancement of community pride- putting Gouyave “on the map”,
enhancement of community infrastructure
KIRANI JAMES-GRENADA’S OLYMPIC
GOLD MEDALLIST COMES FROM THE
FISH FRIDAY TOWN OF GOUYAVE
 Nutmed products including the well
known Nutmed Spray by Noelville
Company
 Belzeb is a producer of natural
aromatherapy, spa and herbal
products from Caribbean fruits and
herbs. Its products are featured in Moi
Spa at Mount Cinnamon Hotel
 Arawak Islands Company produces
lifestyle products as soaps, colognes,
insect repellants, candles using local
herbs and flowers
• Belmont Estate – functioning organic cocoa estate: farm tours,
horticulture, goat dairy and offers an ultimate Caribbean agrotourism adventure.
• Mango Festival - July 2009, 2010 & 2011: The Theme for the
2011 Festival was “Embracing the King of fruits for nutritional,
social and economic benefits for our nation”
• Laura’s Herb & Spice Garden – spice tours and sale of
processed spices
• Grenada Sugar Factory & Westerhall Estates Ltd.(historic rum
distilleries)
1. Lack of a national policy on agro-tourism
2. Perception of juggling for lead sector priority
between “Agriculture” and “Tourism”, instead of
capitalizing on the symbiotic relationship between
the two
3. Difficulty in accessing credit for development of
agro-tourism products
4. Lack of institutional support for agro-tourism
5. High foreign exchange leakages in the purchasing
of imported foods by the hotels and restaurants
AGRITOURISM ON STATIA LET’S MAKE IT WORK!
Workshop Session Objectives:
1.Identify priority areas for agritourism
development in St. Eustatius
2.Specify critical actions required to
support agritourism development
Roxanne Waithe
Agrotourism Specialist
IICA Office in Barbados
Tel: 246.271.9212
Email: [email protected]