2.1. Becoming an agrotourist service provider: what are the main benefits?

Apart from keeping in the pace of tourism trends, implementing agrotourism on your farm will help you in several ways:

• Saving intermediary costs. It can be a marketing platform to draw customers to your farm who will buy your products directly from you. By not using intermediaries, you will save time and money and clients will get cheaper and fresher products – you all benefit!
• Extra direct revenues. You will get extra money from activities such as workshops on the farm. You will not need extra resources to organize them, since venue and materials are already covered, and you will get some extra money directly.
• Direct contact with customers is extremely valued in marketing nowadays. Their comments and feedback will allow you to improve your offer, responding to the real needs and expectations of your clientele.

2.2. Planning phase

Here you can find a checklist on aspects that you should cover before starting your agrotourist business:

• Business overview. You should get an answer to the following questions:
  What products and services will you be offering?
  What activities will take place on the land?
  What facilities will be used?
  What is the size and location of the operation(s)?
  Do you need to acquire more land?
  Will you need to borrow money?
  Are there dangerous areas to which you will need to restrict access? How do you plan to meet sanitation needs (restrooms, hand-washing, etc.)?
  Do you need special permits or licenses?
• Operation plan. You should get an answer to the following questions regarding the activities to be included in your business:
  What is the legal structure of the enterprise?
  Will you need additional insurance to what you currently have?
  Who do you plan to hire and for which positions will you hire them?
  What are the skills and responsibilities required for the personnel involved in the operation?
• Accommodation. Make sure you can provide complete, cozy and customer-adapted accommodation. It is advisable that you offer different types of rooms (single, double, beds for kids, …). Also try to adapt your farm to logistic necessities, such as having parking for your customers’ cars.
• Find a solution to meet basic needs. Even though your customers will strive for being disconnected from the city and being surrounded by nature, emergencies can happen, so you should ensure access to basic medical services, banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, etc.
• Create a business plan. Although most agrotourism programmes are a diversification of existing businesses, it is still necessary to create a separate plan for the agrotourism enterprise. Developing a solid plan will ensure that you stay on the right track. Potential hidden costs and other obstacles will also become more apparent when planning.
• Create a financial plan. In order to manage your economic resources in an efficient way. 
• Create an identity for your agrotourism business – build your story! To differentiate yourself from other agrotourism businesses, to connect with your customers and to get the most out of your experience, your agrotourism business has to have its own story. You can use the history of your family if it is a family business or the tradition of your region. This is also linked to the marketing strategy.

2.3. Integration phase

Once you have your business properly based and planned it is time to enter the market and start your activity. 

Something helpful in this phase is to have a comprehensive digital marketing strategy to help you reach an incredible number of customers. Check the corresponding guidelines to become digital!