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AGRITOURISM ON STATIA LET’S MAKE IT WORK!

AGRITOURISM ON STATIA LET’S MAKE IT WORK!. Roxanne Waithe Agrotourism Specialist, IICA Barbados. Presentation Outline. Definitions: Agritourism Agro-ecotourism Profile of an agro-ecotourism traveller Caribbean success stories Opportunities for Statia Making it work.

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AGRITOURISM ON STATIA LET’S MAKE IT WORK!

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  1. AGRITOURISM ON STATIA LET’S MAKE IT WORK! Roxanne Waithe Agrotourism Specialist, IICA Barbados

  2. Presentation Outline • Definitions: Agritourism Agro-ecotourism • Profile of an agro-ecotourism traveller • Caribbean success stories • Opportunities for Statia • Making it work

  3. AgritourismAgrotourism Ecotourism Any activity, enterprise or business that links agriculture with products, services and experiences in tourism. Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

  4. 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 Community festivals Culinary Tourism Historic plantations & agri-museums Agro-trade (Agribusiness)

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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 Heritage Nature Adventure

  8. Whoismakingitwork in ourregion? Caribbean Agro-ecotourism Initiatives Recent developments: IICA/CARICOM/OAS Agrotourism Conference Sep 20 – 22, 2011

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Project Sites • The national Agrotourismprogramme 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 • EverdaleFarms at Wallilabou • The Fruit TreecropGermplasm Bank at Peter’s Hope • The National Properties Farm at Mt Wynne

  12. Project Status • Five training courses completed: • Hospitality and Customer Service • Health and safety – Basic First Aid and Managing Emergency and evacuation on a farm • Food preparation and Handling on farm tourism sites • Tour guiding • Business Management and Marketing • Tools and safety equipment bought • 300 labels/signs for trees • 3 story boards completed • Rehabilitation of Building at Peters Hope • Fencing and Provision of Security Bars and Grills for Site

  13. AgrotourisminGrenada Grenada’s Agro Tourism Product/Service Initiatives by Segments

  14. Agro-trade :- Direct Trade of Agricultural Produce & Value Added products to the Tourism Sector • 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.

  15. Culinary & Community-based Tourism • Development of Gouyave Town(West Coast) as a Fish Friday Centre- weekly fish fry night, art, craft, local entertainment • 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 • St Mark’s Food Festival –local foods served in the parish every last Saturday of the month • Parish festivals –Fisherman’s Birthday, Rainbow City Festival, St. Patrick’s Day, Sailing Festivals Day, Tivoli Saraca etc. where local foods are predominately featured

  16. 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

  17. KIRANI JAMES-GRENADA’S OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST COMES FROM THE FISH FRIDAY TOWN OF GOUYAVE

  18. Health & Wellness Tourism • Nutmed products including the well known Nutmed Spray by Noelville Company • Belzebis 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

  19. Agro-Heritage & Farm based Offerings • Belmont Estate – functioning organic cocoa estate: farm tours, horticulture, goat dairy and offers an ultimate Caribbean agro-tourism 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)

  20. Major Challenges • Lack of a national policy on agro-tourism • Perception of juggling for lead sector priority between “Agriculture” and “Tourism”, instead of capitalizing on the symbiotic relationship between the two • Difficulty in accessing credit for development of agro-tourism products • Lack of institutional support for agro-tourism • High foreign exchange leakages in the purchasing of imported foods by the hotels and restaurants

  21. AGRITOURISM ON STATIA -LET’S MAKE IT WORK! Workshop Session Objectives: Identify priority areas for agritourism development in St. Eustatius Specify critical actions required to support agritourismdevelopment

  22. Roxanne WaitheAgrotourism SpecialistIICA Office in BarbadosTel: 246.271.9212Email: roxanne.waithe@iica.int

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