– this is a rather complicated question. And if there is no developed transport infrastructure, then it is practically unsolvable. The same products grown on the ground cannot be sold, since they cannot be delivered to the consumer. Rural tourism is a different matter! This idea is interesting in every way. Let's take a closer look.
What is the meaning of the idea for a vacationer
What is rural tourism? This expression refers to a certain type of recreation for residents of megacities, during which they take part in agricultural work. That is, city dwellers go to the countryside to breathe air, eat fresh natural products, and at the same time try to live a completely different life - rural. It must be said that this idea, on the one hand, is simple, since many people buy dachas for this very purpose, on the other hand, it expands the possibilities of “vacationers”.
This means that rural tourism is not just a trip to a suburban area, but an opportunity to visit other countries, get acquainted with the life and way of life of other peoples. What distinguishes this from other types of recreation is the opportunity to fully become immersed in a way of life that is inaccessible to a city dweller, to feel like a full-fledged resident of the village.
Benefits for the host
Here it must be said that the idea gives rural residents literally unlimited opportunities! Developing your own business in rural areas is very difficult. Not because there is a lack of hard work or resources. Rather, due to the lack of a consumer. For a successful business, you need a constant influx of people willing to buy its result, otherwise the idea will not pay off.
Thus, rural tourism becomes a “lifesaver” for those who are actively involved in building their own business. But that is not all! Who would refuse extra labor! Only a peasant who has a lot to do and time is running out can understand this. And if these “hands” also pay for their accommodation... Such a rural business becomes not only profitable, but also enjoyable! The peasant (owner) receives the following benefits: profit from tourists, help with the farm, an influx of new communication and information. This is a great example of a business idea from scratch in a rural area.
A little history
Rural tourism originated in Europe. This was due to the desire of people with little money to relax in nature. At the same time, they wanted to get all the “delights” of expensive hotels together with the pleasure of feeling like the “owner” of a plot of land.
To satisfy the demand, those who wish were offered accommodation with villagers' families for a reasonable fee. I liked the service. Clients now include not only families with low incomes, but also young people, especially students, people seeking solitude and a natural life. Demand for rural holidays has not fallen for many years, bringing up to twenty percent of gross tourism income in some European countries.
Agritourism in Russia
The idea, despite its promise, has not yet found mass development in the country. It should be noted that the Kaliningrad region was the first to practice it (to invite foreigners). Due to its sufficient popularity among esotericists, Altai joined it. It is believed that this particular area of the country will become the most promising in terms of the development of rural tourism.
This is due to the fact that many people from all over the world want to live in this modern Mecca. And in general, Siberia now seems to be one of the best places to implement a business idea in rural areas. This territory is sparsely populated, but there are a lot of people all over the world who want to settle here (at least temporarily).
Signs of rural tourism
This is considered a type of recreation outside the city, completely environmentally friendly and beneficial to local residents. That is, there are three signs: in the village, without harm to nature, useful for the economy. It is necessary to create conditions for the tourist so that he can comfortably enjoy the chosen type of recreation. That is, in the area where this type of service is developed, a special infrastructure is created.
It includes places of residence, transport, places of “work”, shops, cafes and so on. Tourists are called “guests” here. They are trying to create completely home conditions. In addition, psychological comfort is an integral part (if not the main one) of this type of recreation. Often people travel not so much for impressions and physical activity, but for “rest of the soul.” It is known that in rural areas communication is more open and sincere, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system of guests.
Features of rural tourism
This type of business is quite profitable for municipal authorities. It does not require government investment, and the return, if properly organized, will be decent. The only thing that may be required from the budget is the construction (repair) of roads. But this is already their responsibility. The rest of the infrastructure is created by business owners. There are some risks.
Thus, an excessive influx of tourists can contribute to the pollution of the area (cars, garbage, etc.). This problem can be solved. The construction of transport service enterprises, as well as paid parking lots, may be another idea for villagers or municipal authorities. True, such a business in rural areas will only pay off if there is a large influx of guests.
What can we offer tourists?
It must be said that guests come most often in the summer. At this time, they are offered a number of pleasures that they are deprived of due to their urban lifestyle. Among them:
- the regularity and silence of village life;
- vegetables, berries, herbs straight from the garden;
- walks in the open air;
- the opportunity to drink water from natural sources;
- swimming in natural reservoirs;
- work on the ground;
- animal care;
- fresh milk and meat;
- individual approach to each guest;
- the opportunity to relax with your pets;
- participation in folk festivals and entertainment;
- homely atmosphere and much more that nature generously gives.
In the fall, there are people who want to learn how to harvest and make homemade preparations, dry herbs and berries. And all the townspeople simply dream about mushrooms! Thus, rural tourism can become the most popular type of recreation in the world. It lacks stronger advertising. But this is a matter of time.
Where to start (required conditions)
For rural people who have no other source of income, rural tourism is becoming increasingly attractive. The business plan for the development of such a business is not too complicated (at least at the first stage). But it still has some mandatory conditions.
It is necessary not only to be passionate about the idea, but to have some “start-up” capital. Fixed assets: land, a house suitable for receiving guests, transport (car, boat, etc.), pets, vegetable garden or garden. For the first time, you will be able to allocate part of your own living space. It must be equipped with a separate entrance. You need to take care of the dining room, the place where guests will eat. It should be comfortable, spacious and cozy. You will have to prepare food in a separate, specially equipped room. Please note that special services are monitoring this issue.
It is advisable to have a pond, forest, and meadows nearby. That is, the area that would be attractive to tourists. Mandatory conditions also include the desire and ability to work, communicate, and learn new skills (even professions). It is necessary to take into account that guests will need to be taken care of as family members, cooked, cleaned, and entertained. This is serious and hard work.
Desirable conditions
Once you decide that this type of activity is right for you, consider the following. Business ideas from scratch in rural areas have not only mandatory conditions for implementation. There are also intangible resources that you need to have in order to make your tourist area competitive. What is meant? Guests will have to not only be received, but also entertained.
This requires skills in organizing folk festivals, knowledge of local traditions and rituals, mastery of crafts (any task that is done by hand from natural materials), and so on. Guests will be grateful if you sometimes tell them about the history of the area and cultural features.
This is not as paramount as material resources, but it greatly affects competitiveness. It is advisable to create your own corporate style. These could be ethnic adventures or fun holidays. Choose the activity that you like. Then it will be much easier to interest guests in it.
How to organize a reception
To organize your stay, you will need a separate room (or building). Typically a house (or part of it) with a separate entrance is used. The room should be equipped taking into account the comfort of the guests. That is, you will need to take care of beds, bedding, and dishes.
A necessary condition is the presence of a TV, computer (with Internet), telephone connection. Do not forget that rural tourism focuses not only on locals, but also on foreigners. Therefore, you will need conversational skills (minimum English). In addition, you will need to feed your guests. To do this, you will have to master the dishes of not only the local, but also some other cuisines (not everyone will agree to a “country” table).
In this regard, there is a need to have a supply of food. It must be selected in such a way that guests do not feel inconvenienced. It is advisable to inquire about their wishes in advance. Please note that unfavorable reviews (there are plenty of people who like to write them on the Internet) can ruin all your efforts.
The main condition is to respect the interests of the guests
For a business to succeed, you need to be able to attract a client. All marketing textbooks talk about this. Since rural tourism puts home coziness and comfort at the core, creating an atmosphere of benevolence and good nature becomes the first condition for success.
Guests should feel welcome and loved. You need to be able to accept essentially strangers so that they feel not just “buyers” of services, but members of your family. To do this, you need to learn behavioral flexibility, the ability to prevent the development of conflicts in the bud, and develop the ability to understand what your interlocutors want.
Some guests will need additional furniture (maybe toys for the children). Others will want a lot of excursions. In any case, all guests will walk around the village and communicate with the local population.
And in order for this not to turn into a problem, you will have to come to an agreement with your neighbors, maybe involve them in providing additional services (fishing, holidays, excursions). Since rural tourism involves not only relaxation, but also work, you need to plan in advance what you will offer your guests.
There is no need to put them on heavy and dirty work without prior agreement. And it is not customary to demand the “norm” from guests. It is best to give them the opportunity to try themselves in the types of work that they choose for themselves. But this requires patience and the ability to teach.
Rural tourism is a promising direction. Its development does not require huge capital investments at the first stage. You can start with existing resources, and only then build up momentum. At the same time, state registration of such activities is mandatory. It will be necessary to comply with all legal requirements regulating the reception of guests and their stay in the local territory.
- Project summary.
- Description of business features.
- Initial investment plan.
- Client attraction plan.
- Organizational plan.
- Income and cost plan.
- Risk factors, ways to mitigate them.
- Project performance indicators, results.
Why do you need an agritourism business plan?
- A business plan will help you take into account all risks at the planning stage and prevent them from appearing in your work.
- The business plan will determine the optimal concept of agribusiness.
- A business plan will allow you to quickly and easily receive a loan, grant or subsidy.
- A business plan will make it possible to control the project at every stage of its implementation.
Example of agritourism business plan
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Standard business plan | Extended agritourism business plan with full business analysis and financial plan for 5 years |
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Detailed financial model of agritourism |
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Adjustment of the business plan to your numbers by our analysts within 5 working days |
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| Business plan volume: 30 pages. | Business plan volume: 80 pages. | Business plan volume: 80 pages. |
10,000 rub. | 20,000 rub. | 39,000 rub. |
This kit is ideal for those who need a business plan to obtain a loan or attract investment.
Description
The extended business plan includes a financial model of agritourism in Excel format.
The business plan was developed taking into account the practice of evaluating projects in Russian banks, as well as taking into account the requirements of investors and funds for supporting entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation. It will make it possible to justify management decisions on investing in the creation and development of agritourism, predict its financial results and assess risks.
A full description of the business plan can be downloaded from the link:
ContentTo view the content, download the file:
Tables and graphsTo see the list of tables, graphs and diagrams, look at the file:
Payment and deliveryYou can pay in the following ways:
- Bank cards (Russia)
- Electronic money
- Terminals and communication salons
- Money transfers
- Bank cards (International)
Submitting a business plan and financial model:
Dispatch is carried out within 24 hours after payment to your email address.
Business organization
Today, more and more city residents, tired of the noise, bustle and pace of life in megacities, want to relax in nature and experience all the delights of rural life. In this regard, such a direction as agritourism is gaining mass popularity. To organize activities in this area, you will need an agritourism business plan.
Stages of work for starting a business:
- Business concept development.
- Design of buildings, premises, territory (depending on the chosen area of activity).
- Construction works.
- Purchase of furniture, equipment, inventory, farm animals, etc.
- Selection and hiring of personnel.
- Organization of an expanded marketing program.
- Preparatory activities.
- Start of work.
Agrotourism involves not only accommodation of guests in rural areas, but also their active participation in agricultural work: caring for domestic animals, fishing, production of cheese, butter, fermented milk products, picking berries, mushrooms, medicinal herbs, etc.
As a rule, houses are built in a traditional style to accommodate guests, taking into account SanPin, and meals are provided.
It is possible to create a tourist agricultural base based on an existing farm or from scratch.
Market analysis and description of the agritourism project
Agritourism is a new business area in which competition is still extremely weak. At the same time, Russians’ interest in this type of recreation is steadily growing. This is facilitated by problems in international tourism, the trend towards the development of domestic travel, and the search for cheap alternative holiday options.
Produced goods/services
Accommodation at a recreation center, daily meals, excursions through the forest with picking mushrooms, berries, medicinal herbs, the opportunity to participate in the activities of an agricultural farm (dairy, milking cows, etc.).
Potential clients
Individuals.
Below are the calculations for an example agritourism business plan. It is planned to build a recreation center with 12 guest houses, 1 small dining room building and recreation area, buildings for keeping animals and equipment.
Financial part of the agritourism business plan
Investments:
| Attachments | Deadlines | Amount, thousand rubles |
|---|---|---|
Paperwork and registration | ||
Rent of land (during the construction of a mini-farm and guest houses) | ||
Design work | ||
Construction of buildings and premises | ||
Providing heating, water supply, sewerage, electricity, etc. | ||
Marketing events | ||
Purchase of equipment, machinery, inventory, animals for the farm | ||
Purchasing furniture, kitchen utensils, appliances and other accessories to ensure a comfortable stay for guests | xxx | |
Obtaining permits | ||
Other costs | ||
According to the agritourism business plan, investments in the business will amount to about 20 - 25 million rubles.
Income:
Average revenue will be about 30 - 35 million rubles annually (at 80% occupancy of the base for 12 guest houses).
Expenses:
Annual expenses average 50 - 55 million rubles.
Profit, payback and profitability of the business:
The payback period of the project is about 2.5 years, the profit is on average 8 - 13 million rubles, and the profitability is 28%.
Conclusions:
The development of agritourism is a very promising business area that does not require global investments. If you decide to bet on organizing a rural holiday, you definitely won’t go wrong. After all, this business will bring you not only income, but also pleasure. In order to launch a truly profitable and effective project from the very beginning, you will need a well-thought-out business plan.
Download the agritourism business plan template and you can:
- Independently calculate key performance indicators based on your own range of services and other features of your business.
- To interest potential investors and lenders in your project, and to obtain the necessary financing on favorable terms.
Agrotourism is a good opportunity for a farmer to earn additional income in addition to the production of agricultural products.
Creating a rural hotel on a farm is not difficult. This will be easiest for farmers who cultivate their fields or raise livestock. If you do not plan to set up a large hotel on your farm, but will make do with a few rooms, your business does not need to be registered.
Having an equipped farm, you can earn extra income from agrotourism
Additional source of income
Agritourism can become an additional source of income for the owner of a large house or his own farm. In the latter case, you will just have to take care of the cleanliness and order in the guest rooms; you already have everything else!
If your site is located at a great distance from the sea or a picturesque lake, you need to provide vacationers with a recreation area not far from home. For example, a decently equipped orchard (furniture, hammock, benches, swings), where you can sit with a book or have a family picnic.
It would also be a good idea to attract tourists to daily work on the farm:
- Animal feeding
- Baking bread
- Fishing
- Smoking fish or meat products
- Creaming butter by hand
You need to come up with a distinctive concept that will appeal to vacationers and make them think about visiting you next year. Interesting ideas that potential clients will definitely like:
- Regional cuisine prepared from home-produced products
- Proximity to the sea, forest, mountain trails, lake, river
- Organization of walking or outdoor (if you have a horse farm) excursions in the surrounding area
- Ability to independently feed livestock (ducks, chickens, horses, cows)
- Fishing, mushroom picking, boating or horseback riding
- Access to sports equipment - bicycles, scooters, badminton, soccer and volleyballs
- Opportunity to learn how to bake bread, smoke fish, knit lace, make jam
- Farewell gifts of homemade jam or a basket of fruit from your garden
Children enjoy interacting with animals, and for city kids this will be a unique experience
Vacationers’ comfort is the key to success
The tourist... is always right! The best solution would be to arrange housing on the farm so that each family has a separate room with a toilet and shower. If your house was built a long time ago, it will be necessary to make repairs. When painting walls, it is better to avoid bright, intense colors, giving preference to soft pastels.
The rooms should also have all the necessary furniture: a comfortable bed, a bedside table with a lamp, a wardrobe, a TV, a radio and a table with chairs. A clean carpet on the floor, bed linen and towels in the bathroom are a must for guests. Also in the bathroom there should be hand soap, a hairdryer and, of course, a decent-sized mirror.
All vacationers should be provided with free access to the kitchen so that they can prepare coffee, tea or sandwiches. An electric kettle and a set of cups are a must in the kitchen.
Equip your yard and garden with maximum comfort for the needs of tourists. In the courtyard you should install a large table with benches, and in the garden there are several hammocks, a barbecue area, a swing for children, a children's playground and a sandbox.
Holidays with an individual approach
Before you start implementing a new business idea, be sure to determine your target audience. Use an individual approach for each client group. If you want to host families with children on the farm, you need to make a safe playground for them with swings and a sandbox. Over time, you can place a large inflatable pool in your backyard during the summer season.
The menu for guests should include several children's dishes with the ability to change them depending on the diet required for the baby, and also think about several dishes for allergy sufferers. Arrange for babysitting in the absence of parents, and ensure the possibility of safe contact between the child and pets.
For retirees who want to spend a few days in nature, it is also worth considering their comfort zone:
- Rooms with private bathroom and safety shower
- Convenient and safe stairs (which will not be superfluous for small children)
- Unimpeded opportunity to walk around the garden, where it is worth placing several comfortable benches and hammocks
- Be prepared to carry on a conversation and keep company
Organized groups of tourists will be happy if you offer them rooms with en suite bathrooms, beautiful scenery and interesting attractions, as well as a suitable place where they can sit by the fire, cook barbecue or fry sausages, organize karaoke or an evening of dancing.
Mushroom picking will be a great pastime for lovers of “silent hunting”
24 hours a day
It should be remembered that a favorable atmosphere on a farm is created, first of all, by people. For your business to prosper, you need to arrange comfortable rooms, organize good food and think through exciting excursions to attractions. A smile and willingness to help guests are a big plus of this family business. You must also understand that when engaging in agritourism, you will have to work from dawn to dusk. For the most part, this is a family business, where everyone works to make the farm prosper, and it will be difficult for any family member to stay away. Be prepared to work from dawn to dusk. You'll have to:
- Work in the garden and field
- Perform daily cleaning of rooms and preparing them for the arrival of new guests
- Prepare food for your own family and farm guests
- Organize excursions and supervise tourists’ holidays
As you can see, there is a lot of work, and you may need the help of hired employees.
Expenses:
To open a four-room tourist farm you will need:
- Repair and arrangement of rooms - 4 x 40,000 = 160,000 rubles
- Furniture and equipment (lamps, bed linen, etc.) - 4 x 40,000 = 160,000 rubles
- Kitchen equipment (dishes, coffee maker, electric kettle) - 60,000 rubles
- Arrangement of the yard and garden (flowers, lawn, playground, etc.) - 100,000 rubles
- Sports equipment (bicycles) - 4 x 10,000 = 40,000 rubles
- Other sports equipment (football, badminton) – 30,000 rubles
Total: 550,000 rubles
The landscaped garden will be an excellent place to relax for retirees
Creating a themed village
Speaking about agritourism, one cannot fail to mention another opportunity to make good money by using your own farm to attract tourists.
In cities, of course, there are much more opportunities to have fun than in the countryside, and it’s sad to admit it, but beautiful nature alone is not enough for a city dweller. When a family goes out of town, vacationers are faced with the acute issue of organizing leisure time. One of the ways to make your region attractive to tourists is to build a themed village.
Tree houses can become a habitat for “elves”
In the West, such buildings have recently appeared like mushrooms after rain, and you can already find Jurassic Park or the local analogue of the Hobbit Shire. This is an excellent form of entertainment, an alternative attraction to attract tourists.
If you decide to build a themed village, you will have to demonstrate not only good creative skills, but also excellent knowledge of the theme you decide to recreate. It could be a hobbit village or an elven forest with tree houses.
Contrary to popular belief, creating your own themed village does not require much money or effort. As a rule, such a business is built on the use of one’s skills in the implementation of one’s own hobbies and hobbies.
Old Russian surroundings
A business that does not require large financial outlays
Basic decorations can be successfully created at home, in the yard or in the barn, depending on the conditions and possibilities. A good option to speed up construction and get like-minded people is to invite guys interested in this topic via the Internet. You will ask them to help you create this unusual place, and in return, for example, you will promise them a week's vacation here once a year.
Considering how popular all kinds of role-playing movements are today, you will not have a shortage of helpers. Again, role-playing teams can periodically stage costumed role-playing performances in your theme village to your mutual benefit.
Thematic village
Such a place will certainly attract interested tourists who will want to combine outdoor recreation with the opportunity to live in an elven village or a hobbit hole!
In our country, this business is still practically undeveloped, and you have the opportunity to be at its origins. The main thing is to believe in yourself, as did the group of architects who built a real medieval castle in the village of Khrushchevka near Taglyatti. And even in our time of crisis, this hotel in the outback has no problems with guests, because this is a great opportunity to live for a few days in nature in a knight’s castle!
HACKED BY SudoX – HACK A NICE DAY.
With the development of industrial society, people are increasingly beginning to appreciate all the delights of natural recreation. Fast-paced daily life and the constant bustle of noisy cities lead to the fact that people gladly prefer trips to the countryside for a weekend getaway. That is why we offer you a business related to agritourism.
The essence of agrotourism is to provide people with a country holiday, which includes all the delights of a natural and rural nature. The opinion that a comfortable stay can only be achieved within the city has long lost its relevance. This type of recreation is becoming increasingly popular among tourists and citizens.
The specificity of such a business is that the fundamental factor of your business will be location. It should be as uncivilized as possible; ideally, there should be a forest and a river nearby. Don’t miss the point that this vacation should be, first of all, environmentally friendly (that is, a village in the city center is clearly not suitable).
The advantage of an ecotourism project is its simplicity; it can be organized by an ordinary villager, because it does not require special investments. In addition, this business will be suitable for beginner entrepreneurs who have no experience behind them.
This business must be registered as an individual entrepreneur, because there is no need for a license, as well as registration of an organizational and legal form (legal entity). A clear advantage will be the ability to use a simplified taxation system.
According to statistics, the payback of a business occurs within 2-3 months due to the minimal costs of opening such a project. Profitability can reach 45%, which is a very good result.
In order for your business to become successful as quickly as possible, draw up a business plan in advance. You can find such examples below.
A business plan has been developed for a project to create an enterprise for organizing recreation in the village (agritourism). The essence of business and the nature of the activities of such an organization are presented. It contains advice from an experienced entrepreneur from America that will help effectively run a business in this area. Consecutive stages of business organization have been developed. The key features that need to be paid attention to when implementing this type of project are described. An analysis was made of the market capacity, as well as the main consumer segment, and the saturation of the market with competing firms.
Contains a business plan for the organization of the Krolova Khata company. A list of limiting factors for the development of such business in our country is presented. A complete economic analysis of the environment was carried out for various groups of factors. Promising directions for the development of agricultural estates have been developed. The forms and types of tourism that can be used in rural areas are presented. Options for organizing recreation and entertainment in rural areas have also been developed. Foreign experience in the development of such a project has been analyzed; using its example, it is planned to organize the activities of our enterprise.
A project has been developed for the development of agritourism in our country. The detailed nature of the activities operating in this direction is described. All stages of creating an agritourism enterprise have been consistently developed. Examples of successful companies in this area are presented, as well as factors that need to be paid special attention to. It contains advice from ordinary people living in rural areas who were able to establish their own business based on agritourism. A basic effective concept of the project has been developed, which must be followed throughout.
The idea of creating an enterprise for the development of agritourism is presented using the example of Derevnya LLC. A detailed description of the market, products and its features is provided. An effective marketing plan has been drawn up, which includes an analysis of the competitiveness of the enterprise, the main consumers and the product market. An economic justification for the feasibility of the project is also presented, during which indicators of revenue, profit before and after taxes, costs, profitability indicators and payback periods of the project are calculated.
A step-by-step algorithm of action has been developed and presented for the development of a successful enterprise in the field of agroecotourism. Contains an overview of the basic principles of development, as well as the principles of meeting customer needs. Prospects for the development of rural tourism, its strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons have been developed. The categories of various housing provided by such companies are presented. It also covers such important issues as how to organize the reception of tourists, how to resolve controversial and conflict issues, and also how to create a leisure program for clients.
How to make money on tourism during a crisis? How to organize a great vacation without going abroad? Find out from our material about such a new niche in the tourism business as agritourism.
The strong demand for village tourism in Europe is driving supply. In Lithuania, for example, there are more than five hundred estates, in Italy - 16 thousand, in Poland - about 20 thousand. Belarus is not lagging behind: if in 2006 there were 30 estates registered here, then this year there are 1,800 of them.
Currently, Russia has just begun to form its own personal tourism product - rural tourism. We will look further at how this happens.
The essence of agritourism business
Agrotourism (or village tourism) is a sector of the tourism industry that, based on natural, historical, and cultural resources, creates a complex product intended for recreation. The main condition for business: accommodation of tourists in rural areas - away from multi-storey and industrial buildings.
Organizing leisure time in the village has many advantages:
- Small initial investment, which is especially important in conditions of limited resources.
- Tourism itself is considered a profitable industry: with high profitability and quick payback.
Proof of this is the data provided on the website http://www.agritourism.ru/ and included in the following table. Investments in projects are different, while the payback in both cases is within the normal range.
Both projects are engaged not only in tourism, but also in agricultural activities (for “Solar Farm”, revenue from food production is 50% of the total, for “Olga Khutor” - about 20%).
Not so long ago, the demand for small houses with a “family atmosphere” and a mandatory active recreation program began to increase in the tourism services market. More and more people are choosing estates that vividly display the traditions of the area, hold family celebrations, and offer the opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the village - take care of livestock, watch farming, etc.
Agritourism market in Russia
The main problem of the industry is the lack of clear legislation controlling the activities of business entities. The current law “On the Fundamentals of Tourism Activities” does not even contain the specific concepts of “agritourism”, “rural resident”, etc.
There is also no clear decision on how the state can support small businesses: on what basis are subsidies received, if there are any tax breaks, whether loan deferments are offered, etc. Another disadvantage is that the principles for categorizing agritourism objects (“star rating” of estates) have not yet been determined.
Local authorities provide great support to small businesses. For example, the following regional programs are currently operating in the Russian Federation:
- In the Altai Territory "Green House".
- In Leningradskaya - “The Road to Home”.
- In the Moscow region: the project can be downloaded from.
As part of the program implemented in the Moscow region, the Konovalovo eco-farm has already been opened. Today, this project is exemplary for tourism industry market participants. The farm offers a whole range of complementary services: recreation, production and sale of clean products, and a training center.
Normative base
In the spring of 2015, the State Duma will consider the project “On Amendments to the Law “On the Fundamentals of Tourism Activities”. It is expected that the approval of this bill will give impetus to the development of agritourism in Russia.
At the moment, agrotourism farms conduct their work on the basis of the following documents:
- “On peasant farming” and “On personal subsidiary farming”.
- “On land management” and “Land turnover”.
Successful business models of agritourism facilities in Russia
The Russian government sets the work of Alexander Konovalov as an example to everyone. In 2009, he opened an eco-farm: investments amounted to 1 million rubles. In 2013, Konovalov began construction of a mini-hotel and a large guest courtyard. The businessman’s investments this time amounted to 2 million rubles. A year has passed and today tourism brings in 40% of the total revenue of the entire complex.
We invite you to watch the news about the opening of the Konovalovo agrotourism complex in the Shakhovsky district:
By the way, in Russia ATK “EkofermaKonovalova” is the only company that offers beginning businessmen the purchase of their own franchise.
Eco-farm "Ryzhovo", Egoryevsky district
In addition to rural tourism, the farm breeds horses and produces eco-products.
Guests are invited to a spacious and very cozy mansion. The house has a spacious fireplace room, table tennis, cinema room, billiards and a Russian steam room. Tourists are offered horseback riding and fishing in the local pond.
Prices: a month of accommodation costs 100,000 rubles, a day - 25,000 rubles. Cost of food - 500 rubles. per person per day.
The owners offer dishes prepared from fresh fish and steamed lamb. There is a separate menu for vegetarians. A separate point of the holiday is an excursion to the stables and eco-farm, participation in caring for animals, collecting eggs, etc.
Agricultural estate "Miroedovo": Smolensk region
A large country house designed for simultaneous stay of 16 people.
The area is landscaped and completely enclosed by a high fence. There is a subsidiary farm. Turkeys, chickens, goats, and sheep are fattened here. Next to the outbuildings there is a large orchard. Guests are involved in harvesting and caring for livestock.
You can rent a room for two from 2000 rubles per day. Rent of the entire house from 16 thousand rubles. Visiting the sauna is paid separately.
The highlight of a holiday in “Miroedovo” is the organized observation of wild animals that live in the wild.
Agricultural estate "Kalinova Dolina": Semenovo village, Smolensk region.
Ancient rural life and eco-recreation, founded by the famous chansonnier V. Kalina. There are two private spring lakes on the territory, next to which there is a real Russian bathhouse. You can relax after the steam room in a gazebo built from timber.
The farmstead provides food from environmentally friendly products - grown on Russian soil without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
You can rent a house (for 10 people) from 9,000 rubles per day. On holidays the price tag rises 2-3 times. Additional services - fishing, sauna, tennis, rental of bicycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, hookah - are paid separately.
Near the farmstead there are several hunting farms that, for a small fee, organize an unforgettable hunt for a wild boar or other wild animal.
More details about the estate in the video:
How does agrotourism work in Belarus?
The development of the industry here was facilitated by a large amount of land allocated for agricultural use. The second impetus was the Presidential Decree, by which the founders of agricultural estates were exempt from taxes and the provision of targeted preferential loans with deferred payment from the country's leading bank.
Estates are mainly located around Minsk - within 100 km from the city. Recently, there has been a strong decline in demand for houses located far from main highways and regional cities. Main clients: Russians who come on vacation on weekends and holidays.
We propose to study several business models existing in the republic.
Estate "Veragi": Minsk region.
This estate is very popular among Russians.
The guest house offers a choice of 10 rooms for 2, 3 or 4 people - a total of 26 beds. The large living room can comfortably accommodate a group of 30 people. The owners offer three meals a day, a bathhouse, and gatherings in a cozy gazebo.
Renting the entire house for a day costs 1000 USD. Double room - 50 USD, triple room - 60 USD, quadruple room - 70 USD per day. Meals are available for a fee. On the territory there is a large covered gazebo - kolyba. It is designed for simultaneous stay of 70 people. The gazebo is rented out for banquets for 300 USD/8 hours.
All entertainment is paid for according to the price list: bathhouse, bicycle rental, billiards, making souvenirs, tea from a samovar and even listening to old records on the gramophone.
The furnishings of the house are of interest: an antique gramophone, samovars, suitcases, a saxophone, embroidery - the owners assure that there is something to see here.
The following video shows a landscaped area of the estate:
Estate "Zerechany": village of Zarechany, Minsk region
Due to its inexpensive accommodation, it is popular with local residents.
Guests are accommodated in rooms of three houses: guest house, bath house, family house. Each cottage has all the conditions for a comfortable stay: shower, toilet, kitchen, microwave, TV. For celebrations in large groups, the owners rent out a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 50 people.
Room prices vary from 15 to 75 USD. per person per day. Meals are provided three times a day and must be paid for separately. For all additional services (sauna, games, hunting, fishing, etc.) the price is charged according to the list price.
The Zarechany estate offers celebrations with exciting accompaniment: games, animation, music. In addition, unique evenings of epistolary genres are held here for all ages.
Estate "Mashin Khutor": Kruglitsa village, Stolbtsovsky district.
The owners of the estate offer accommodation in a 5-room house with an attic floor. All bedrooms are equipped with their own bathroom. Three meals a day are provided. On the ground floor there is a large fireplace room, the windows of which overlook an open veranda.
Clients have access to the Internet, mountain bikes, sauna, table tennis, badminton, darts and other games. You are not allowed to come to the estate with pets.
The owners charge 35 USD per person. per day. Three meals a day are paid additionally: per person 35 USD. per day. Bathhouse for six people (2 hours) - 50 USD Bicycle rental: 10 USD per day.
The estate is visited by those who are interested in the history of the Belarusian region: The famous Mir Castle is 25 km from the house, and the Nesvizh Palace is 40 km away.
How does agritourism work in the world?
Each country has its own priority agritourism product.
- In the USA, Canada, and Great Britain there are small hotels and boarding houses offering outdoor recreation for little money. Here tourists are offered an overnight stay with breakfast - without an emphasis on tradition and agriculture.
- In Germany, small business in village tourism is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture. A prerequisite for organizing an agro-estate here is the preservation of traditional crafts and farmstead management skills.
- In Hungary and Poland, under the brand “village tourism” they offer hunting, fishing, catching rare insects - everything that has nothing to do with the eco-oriented nature of agritourism. In Central Europe and America, the attitude towards such consumer leisure is more negative.
Let's consider several business models of agricultural estates and eco-farms existing in the world.
Bilderbuchbauernhof estate, Germany
One of the most famous manors in Germany. Has the status of a three-star hotel. In addition to agrotourism, they are engaged in the production of eco-products: milk, meat, eggs.
Tourists live in comfortable rooms of a house-hotel, which, by the way, has a certain historical value. The maximum number of visitors is 80. The main clients are Germans.
The owners of the estate invite their guests to do traditional village chores: milking cows, collecting chicken eggs, removing manure, weeding, harvesting, preparing homemade cheeses and sausages. There are also “standard” entertainment: horse riding/biking.
Video about the Easter holiday held at the Bilderbuchbauernhof eco-farm:
One night stay on an eco-farm costs 30 euros, half board with breakfast and dinner - 40 euros.
The Bilderbuchbauernhof is an example of true village tourism - it is close to the land, animals, nature and, of course, to farming.
A real Finnish farm. Horses, ponies, goats, sheep, dogs are bred here and guests are invited.
Rooms with all amenities have been prepared for tourists. In summer, the owners of the estate offer to ride in a 2-seater canoe or play golf, in winter - take a snowshoe walk or sit by a giant fire. On the farm there are two saunas: black and dry.
Cost of living: 30 euros per room. Meals are calculated separately.
Eco-farm "Ilola" is an ideal place for children to get acquainted with animals. The recreation program includes feeding horses and sheep, pony rides, cleaning stables, and walking dogs.
Anichini Ranch, USA, Oklahoma
The main focus of the business: the production of healthy food, respect for the land and the preservation of valuable species. Side services: group tours, excursions, accommodation at the ranch.
The owners offer complete immersion into farm life. Tourists, together with ranch workers, care for animals, do weeding, harvesting, observe nature, and learn thrift. Visitors are treated to organic products grown on the farm: nuts, apples, fresh herbs, pork and lamb dishes.
You can live on the ranch for free. There is always work for volunteers, for which the owners will pay with clean bed and food. There are also paid tours: group, family, individual.
Agrotourism is certainly an interesting niche, firstly, the exchange rate of the dollar and euro has made traveling abroad an extremely expensive pleasure, and secondly, the emerging fashion for a healthy lifestyle (eco-products) adds additional points to this business.