Agri-tourism entrepreneurship: A new strategy for sustainable rural development

Agri-tourism entrepreneurship has received increasing attention in recent years as it has been widely promoted both in developed and developing countries. Many scholars argue that agri-tourism entrepreneurship can play a significant role as a new strategy for sustainable agricultural and rural development. Indeed، agri-tourism entrepreneurship can deliver several benefits in the three dimensions of sustainability. Within the economic dimension، agri-tourism can be considered as an agricultural diversification strategy. It can provide a supplementary income and new employment opportunities to rural communities; therefore، it can reduce poverty، unemployment، and immigration in rural areas. From the environmental perspective، agri-tourism can contribute to the conservation of the environment، ecosystems and farm lands and minimize environmental damage and agricultural contaminations. From the socio-cultural perspective، agri-tourism helps preserve rural cultural heritage، improve farmers'' social status، and empower female farmers. These benefits and positive effects of agri-tourism can accelerate the process of agricultural and rural development. However، several common challenges frequently hamper the development of agri-tourism، including planning problems، lack of financial and human resources، lack of relevant training and education، and lack of professionalism. Government institutions should increasingly encourage and promote agri-tourism in rural areas. This study is a descriptive and library research and its aim is to review the concept، principles of agri-tourism entrepreneurship، explain its benefits for sustainable rural development and state challenges facing agri-tourism. The paper finally presents some suggestions to overcome the challenges.