The Contribution of Agrotourism to the Development of Rural Areas
Gahraman Yusupov1 , Elshan Mammadov2* ,
Ali Jabbarov3 , Rashad Safarov2
Abstract. This article sets the task of thoroughly analyzing the impact of agritourism on the economic and social development of the village. The main goal of the study is to determine how agritourism affects the economic development of regions, the well-being of the local population and environmental protection. At the same time, the advantages of agritourism over mass tourism and its contribution to sustainable development are analyzed. The research questions provide a basis for determining what benefits agritourism brings to local communities in economic and social terms and to what extent activities in this direction are sustainable in the long term.The methodology of the study is based on an empirical approach. Quantitative and qualitative methods were applied during data collection. A total of 357 respondents were surveyed through a questionnaire. Respondent selection was carried out based on a combination of random and purposive methods. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and comparative analysis methods. The results of the study show that the development of agritourism has a positive impact on the creation of additional jobs in rural areas, the increase in local production and the development of social infrastructure. It was found that attention to environmental protection has increased and the cultural values of the local population are actively promoted. The results also show that proper management of agrotourism facilitates the application of the principles of sustainable development. The originality of the study is due to the fact that the development potential of agrotourism in Azerbaijan is assessed on the basis of empirical data. The results of the study provide practical recommendations for tourism managers, local governments and business entities. This article contributes to the decision-making process related to planning and management of tourism development in rural areas.
Keywords: agrotourism, rural tourism, agriculture, local population, sustainable development, environment