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As the number of overseas tourists visiting Ireland continues to grow so do the opportunities for farmers to diversify into agri-tourism, attendees at the Teagasc Agri-tourism conference heard.
Opening the conference, Sinead Hennessey of Fáilte Ireland said that last year nine million overseas tourists came to Ireland, with many seeking new experiences that farmers were uniquely placed to provide. She explained that tourists no longer wanted to just visit a country, they wanted to experience its way of life.
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Austria
The conference heard from Hans Embacher of Holiday on the Farm in Austria, which had over 2,300 member farms involved in agri-tourism. He said typically these farms earned one third of their income from diversified activities, mainly providing accommodation.
Booked through Holiday on the Farm a bed usually costs €40/night. Last year, the average occupancy rate for a bed was 112 nights giving each bed an annual turnover of €4,144. The average number of beds per farm was 10.
Barry Caslin, rural development specialist with Teagasc, said similar opportunities existed in Ireland, particularly for low-income sectors such as beef and sheep. He said: “Those farms are looking for alternative incomes, but what we’re talking about here is diversification and that isn’t for everyone.”
He stressed it was often fear of the unknown that held people back but that supports were available through LEADER, the local enterprise office and Teagasc.
Artisan food
Eddie O’Neill, artisan food expert with Teagasc, said opportunities existed for Irish farmers to produce artisan products. He pointed to how Ireland imported 18,000t of farmhouse cheeses and 70% of all the yogurt consumed in the country.
Barry Caslin said added-value was the key to these products. He said social media had opened up rural Ireland to a whole new audience and provided new marketing opportunities. However, those involved in the sector stressed the importance of having high speed broadband as more business was conducted online.
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