Agritourism Opportunities

Are you considering adding agritourism as another venture to your farm business? It is critical to do your research and evaluate if this is right for your business. In the publication "Agritourism Guidelines for the Promotion and Regulation of Farm-based Tourism Enterprises", the Lancaster County Planning Commission outlines a strategic tourism plan. The plan identifies key areas of focus for Lancaster county, but the main points of the plan can apply to your area.

"In general, the purpose of the task force was to identify ways in which agritourism opportunities could be created to help ensure that the county's family farms continue to prosper and remain sustainable in the future...the task force was charged with addressing the following tasks:

1. Identifying the types of "authentic" agritourism related activities, experiences, and uses that would support the primary use of the farm, which is farming, and that should be permitted within local agricultural and/or rural zoning districts.
2. Developing guidelines which will ensure that the agritourism related activities that are permitted in an Agricultural or Rural District meet the legitimate public health, safety and welfare concerns of the local governments, and
3. Create a recommended administrative process for reviewing and permitting proposed agritourism related ventures within a municipality."