Rural RoundUp returns to Winnemucca

Winnemucca (cowboy country) celebrated Nevada's 20th annual Rural RoundUp 24-26th March 2010 and hosted the State's Rural Tourism Conference. Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki says it's "one time each year [rural tourism stakeholders] can learn new tactics to market their areas or events". The event is marketed to an international audience.

Speaker Roger Brooks, with Destination Development held an educational session on “The New Age of Rural Tourism”. He spoke about attracting new business, new residents and increased tourism spending, about what rural communities have done, and are doing, to put themselves "on the map" and on the road to long term success.

Travel advertising specialist with Google, Ryan Denny, spoke about the "Top 10 Wins" on on-line advertising, measuring success, and your Website.

Publication Link: Effects of Population Migration on Rural Tourism

Effects of population migration on rural tourism The recent non-metropolitan turnaround in the USA has resulted in population migration from large cities to small towns and countryside. The marketing opportunity presented to rural tourism comes with significant challenges for its sustainability. The focus of literature on rural tourism sustainability has been more on the environmental and socio-cultural protection of the intrinsic qualities in the countryside, but less on the economic viability and marketing feasibility of rural tourism.

Delaware Agritourism

YouTube - Agritourism Agritourism can add several benefits to a farm. Rob Leeds, Extension Educator from Delaware County, discusses why agritourism experiences are good from the operators and customers point of view. Included are things to consider when adding agritourism to your business, along with trends coming in the industry.

Tennessee Proclaims 20th March "Ag Day"

In support of Agriculture, 20th March is now officially known as "Ag Day" in Tennessee.

The over 79,000 farms in the state bring in over US$3 billion annually in cash receipts.There are currently more than 600 agritourism venues in Tennessee, USA. In 2007, agritourism generated more than $6.5 million in farm income, as reported by the government of Tennessee.

The proclamation of "Ag Day" recognizes the contribution that stakeholders in agriculture have made to Tennessee.

Agri-Tourism Vision 2020

The Indian State of Maharashtra, India, recently unveiled its 10-year Agri-Tourism Vision 2020, according to TravelBizMonitor.com.

The main goal is to allow farmers to retain their farm and stay on the farm; that, in a speech at the Maharashtra State Agri & Rural Tourism Co-operation Federation (MART) national convention on Agri-Tourism, by managing director Pandurang Taware.

Other points in Vision 2010 include:

• Government should have a separate policy for Agri-Tourism. Financial institutions like public and private sector banks should support farmers by lending money to invest for farming.
• The primary objective of Agri-Tourism is to sell farm products produced by farmers and not the development of hospitality infrastructure.
• Tourism stake holders like tour operators and travel agents should support this segment (Agri-Tourism) by selling these destinations.
• Government should look after capacity building of farmers and promotion of Agri-Tourism, both domestically and internationally. Government of India should include Agri-Tourism in their marketing initiatives on the lines of promotion of other tourism segments.
• Basic infrastructure such as roads, drainage, toilet facilities, have to be maintained and developed at Agri-Tourism destinations.
• Income generates from Agri-Tourism has to be treated as agricultural income.

"The soul of India lies in villages", states Pradeep Kumar Jain, Minister of State for Rural Development, Government of India.

"Over 97 per cent of the city crowd were ready to travel over 300 km to experience the rustic beauty of village life,” said Taware, in a report by The Punekar.

Eagles are main attraction in AgriTourist events

Photographers flock to watch eagles in an agricultural setting.

The village of Sheffield Mills, Nova Scotia, Canada, hosted its 19th Annual Eagle Watch event this winter, 2010. Also, Carson Valley, Nevada, USA, held its 8th Annual Eagles and Agriculture Event this past winter. These events bring economic activity into rural areas.

Post any other eagle or bird watching events that attract tourists to rural, agricultural settings.

Performing artists revitalize small rural town

Rosebud School of the Arts, Alberta, Canada

This is how to build a rural attraction with a population of about 100. In the village of Rosebud, once a ranching, farming and mining community going into decline, the Rosebud School of the Arts was created, attracting performing artists from the USA and across Canada. About an hour's drive from Calgary, this community started with one arts camp in 1973 by school teacher Laverne Ericsson. It now has a dinner theatre, with stage plays and pre-show entertainment that attract patrons from nearby Calgary and bus tours from across Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Rosebud links with events and attractions in surrounding communities, such as the Atlas Coal Mine Historic Site in Drumheller and local ghost towns such as Wayne. Rosebud now sports its own radio show and recording studio.