The history of tourism and agriculture progress belongs to the second half of the 20th century, but in its current form and meaning, tourism and agriculture dates back to the first two decades of the 21st century. In a simple way, it is an agricultural center and field, where tourists or customers visit agricultural places directly to buy and obtain agricultural products. In general, tourism is an abbreviation for both agriculture and tourism that connects, without having a center to connect tourists and farmers, or buyers and sellers.
Artistically, tourism and agriculture can be defined as a form of business practices, which aims to attract tourists to agricultural farms and agricultural production factories, which we mean to include all different forms of agriculture such as green fields, fruit, wheat and Barley, millet, sesame seeds, etc. Thus, tourists can visit agricultural areas and villages, and this economy or this project has countless importance among the countries of the world, which has emerged in various forms for about 40-50 years. These countries include the United States and The United Kingdom, Italy, France, Armenia, Canada, India and Pakistan, in some Arab countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE).
“Kurdistan Region and Agricultural Tourism”
The Kurdistan Region has been the center of agriculture, which dates back to 11,000 years BC, where the first agricultural village was discovered, the village of “Bestan Soor”, and the first agricultural tools were discovered in Kurdistan, which belong to 7,000 years BC. The agricultural tourism project in the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government has taken priority because agricultural tourism includes all the agricultural and tourism activities that exist on the land and tourist and agricultural areas of the Kurdistan Region. According to statistics and data, the Kurdistan Region has 17 million hectares of land, about 7 million hectares of land is planted annually with agricultural products such as vegetables and fruits, wheat and barley, sesame and seeds, etc The Kurdistan Region, based on its favorable climate, high rainfall, fertile land and attractive tourist areas, should pay great attention to this sector and benefit the economic infrastructure of the Kurdistan Region, which this sector will be a factor for diversification of revenue sources in the Kurdistan Region.
Economists generally determine this sector and form of economy the oil of the 21st century, and the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government have a special view of agricultural tourism and the ninth cabinet in late 2023, decided to implement the project. This project can be working on in different tourism areas in the Kurdistan Region in Halabja, Sulaimani, Erbil and Duhok, which have a large agricultural and tourism area; through these projects we can attract the attention of domestic and foreign tourists to these areas of the Kurdistan Region.
Economic Benefits of Agritourism”
- It will be a factor for achievement and a new source of income.
- Agri-tourism will be a golden opportunity to combine the advantages of both tourism and agriculture sectors to achieve a number of financial and social benefits for tourist areas and landowners.
- Sustainable agritourism provides opportunities for farm owners to generate income and directly market products to consumers.
- The tourism sector and tourist areas will see further recovery, by increasing the number of tourists to rural areas and agricultural areas.
- Agritourism will continue to be a factor in maintaining and increasing agricultural land.
- It will be factors to diversify the business activities of farmers.
- It will be a factor in earning a sustainable and stable income.
- Agricultural tourism will be a factor in providing education and employment opportunities for individuals in the field of agriculture and tourism.
- Agricultural tourism will be a factor in increasing domestic and foreign taxes.
- It will be a factor for the Kurdistan Region to develop factories specializing in agriculture, white products and poultry.
- It will be a factor in activating and using agri-tourism activities.
- It will be a factor that attracts tourists to visit the region.
- It will be a factor in economic strengthening, rural revival and job creation.
How can we pay attention to this sector?”
- For behalf of further developing this sector it would be by providing financial support and assistance to farmers. The government can provide short-term and long-term loans to farmers.
- Encourage and support citizens to rebuild villages.
- Assistance and delivery of services to farms and agricultural land such as water and electricity supply, and paving roads.
- Allocate and establish a bank dedicated to this sector.
- Connecting the work and activities of this sector to the outside and inside the world, in order to attract tourists to the Kurdistan Region.
- Increase taxes or ban imported products to the region.
