Viewing Agrotourism in a Rural Development Context.

Abstract

The world of the 21st century differs greatly from that of the previous one. Beyond environmental and geopolitical shifts observable from a global perspective, rural areas—particularly in countries of the so-called Global North—have undergone profound transformations in terms of their characteristics, functions, and challenges. One of the most important changes has been the substantial decline in agricultural productivity and functionality in these regions. The trend stems from a range of complex and interrelated causes, including political, institutional, and competitiveness factors within an increasingly interconnected global market. The consequences have been devastating in certain areas and production contexts, leading to a drop in the number of agricultural companies, reduced employment in the sector, and a loss of agrobiodiversity. To try to reverse this situation—or at least adapt to it—one of the strategies for maintaining family farms has been based the diversification of activities. It is in this context that modern agrotourism has emerged since the end of the last century, which is the central theme of this Special Issue of the journal Agriculture.