Agritourism in Gozo : issues and opportunities

Abstract

Agritourism in Gozo is still in its infancy despite its rural landscape and scenic attractions. However, recently it has become a more topical subject and is being considered as a type of ‘alternative tourism’ that the island can develop. In fact, it is an alternative source of income for farmers and an alternative form of recreation for tourists. This study focuses on the current state of agritourism in Gozo. One of the main issues discussed is agritourism as a backdoor to land speculation. Part of the literature review deals with case studies from the Mediterranean region, while the main study focuses on the local context, in particular the agritourism enterprises already established in Gozo. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were chosen for this study, using interviews and questionnaires respectively for the collection of data. The interviews were held with important stakeholders in local agritourism, namely, owners of agritourism enterprises and representatives of government entities. The questionnaires were distributed among persons who had experienced agritourism abroad. In the results it was found, among others, that owners considered EU and state incentives insufficient. The study also found that the MEPA 2014 document Rural Policy and Design Guidance provided the only set of regulations specifically directed at agritourism. The study also contains a number of proposals on how agritourism can develop and expand further in Gozo in light of the island’s quest for alternative types of tourism.