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Farm-based tourism as an alternative farm enterprise : a case study from the Northern Pennines, England.

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Published
  • Brian Ilbery
  • Ian Bowler
  • Gordon Clark
  • Alastair Crockett
  • Alastair Shaw
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>06/1998
<mark>Journal</mark>Regional Studies
Issue number4
Volume32
Number of pages10
Pages (from-to)355-364
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

This paper examines the development of farm-based tourism in the less favoured area of the northern Pennines. Farm tourism is conceptualized as an alternative farm enterprise (AFE) comprising one of seven possible `pathways of farm business development�. As such, the development of farm-based tourism (FBT) is influenced by a range of factors both external and internal to the farm. Lower levels of family labour distinguish tourist AFE farms from non-tourist AFE farms, while different types of FBT are associated with particular farm and household characteristics. Nevertheless, the reasons for adopting tourist enterprises are diverse and often very individualistic. Institutional involvement in FBT in the study area is increasing, but it is reactive rather than proactive and tends to constrain as well as enable the development of farm tourism. Few farmers have contacted institutions about new or existing farm tourism enterprises. However, levels of inter-agency networking are increasing and a core of eight institutions is now dominating institutional behaviour towards AFEs and FBT in the northern Pennines, especially in Northumberland. More research is needed on the interactions between farm households and institutions in the development of FBT.

Bibliographic note

The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Regional Studies, 32 (4), 1998, © Informa Plc