caribbean agrotourism development initiatives &...

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: roxanne.waithe@iica.int

Tel: 246 427 4740/1/2