A new statewide initiative wants farmers, landowners and land managers to think of ways to combine the top two industries of Georgia, agriculture and tourism, into sustainable moneymaking ventures.
In July 2001, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences partnered with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism to develop a statewide agricultural and ecological tourism program.
Officials estimate that properly developed farm-related tourism could exceed $1 billion in Georgia.
"It's a combined effort with education and marketing help from the state," said Gulcin Brown, CAES agri-eco tourism coordinator. "This is an organized effort to establish agri-eco-tourism in Georgia."
With the future of farming facing many challenges, she said, opportunities like this can help farmers diversify their operations and ride out downturns in commodity prices.
Market and develop
Some Georgia farmers, large and small, already offer seasonal
tours.
"Our objective is to cooperate with landowners," Brown said. "If
they have an ongoing tourism business, we can help them get the
word out. If they have an idea they'd like to pursue, we can help
them develop it. We can coordinate their efforts in hopes of
bringing them more visibility and marketing."
"Some big landowners are converting lands to eco-based tourism,
such as hunting, fishing, bird watching and hiking trails," she
said. "These landowners have land they actively farm. Part of the
tour could be to look at the fields and plants. This ties the
two: nature and agricultural tourism."
There's agri-interest. Tour companies already call Georgia
visitors' centers and ask about on-farm tours. "Those calls get
directed to us," Brown said. "We give information on who is
offering farm tours."
Region by region
The initiative is now organizing groups to explore specific
regions of the state for potential tourist attractions.
"We want to learn about the region and bring back ideas and
thoughts to support the development of a sustainable agri-eco
tourism program for the area," she said.
A tour of southwest Georgia counties took place Sept. 5-6. The
tour was in support of previous research by Golden Triangle
Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc., in Blakely, Ga.
Other tours will look at north and coastal Georgia.
"We want to explore the regions," she said, "and bring back ideas
and thoughts to support the development of a sustainable
agri-eco-tourism for the state."
For more information, call Gulcin Brown at (229) 386-3800 or the
GDITT at (800) 847-4842. Or e-mail Brown at
gbrown@tifton.cpes.peachnet.edu.
