The role of agritourism in the agricultural economy
FarmBiz|June 2020
I am writing this article amid the Covid-19 lockdown.
Dr WA Lombard
The role of agritourism in the agricultural economy

Considering that tourism, in the traditional sense of the word, has been forced to a halt, the topic seems a little strange – South Africans are not allowed to travel outside of the municipal area in which they reside or cross provincial boundaries. Airports have turned into ghost towns. Still, one hopes that business will return to normal sooner rather than later.

Tourist numbers

Statistics South Africa, in their 2018 Tourism Report, calculated that approximately 15,94 million foreigners crossed South African borders. This number includes people who arrived by air, road and sea. The number of foreign travellers who arrived in South Africa has more than doubled since the numbers recorded in 2004 (6,82 million), indicating a healthy growth in tourism and traveller activity during this time.

During this same period, the number of South Africans who have travelled to other countries also experienced staggering growth, from 429 000 departures in 2004 to 11,95 million departures in 2018.

South Africans mostly made use of travel by road when exiting the country (59,2%), followed by air (39,3%) and sea (1,4%). Travel by road was the mode of transport for 74,7% of foreign travellers arriving in South Africa, while 24,8% arrived by air and 0,4% by sea.

Almost 95% of foreign visitors enter the country for holiday purposes. The greatest share of tourists reside in African countries (74,4%), with Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries being the main countries of residence for tourists (72,7%). The remaining share of approximately 2,67 million tourists comprise visitors from overseas.

This story is from the June 2020 edition of FarmBiz.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the June 2020 edition of FarmBiz.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FARMBIZView All
Hauling In A Full Net: Reaping The Benefits Of Processed Fish
FarmBiz

Hauling In A Full Net: Reaping The Benefits Of Processed Fish

As local and global governments deal with the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, producers are now more than ever searching for new options for expanding their businesses. That said, farming and value addition to produce does not have to be limited to landlocked food sources.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2020
Grow Produce Year-round With Tunnels And Greenhouses
FarmBiz

Grow Produce Year-round With Tunnels And Greenhouses

Climate change is an inescapable reality and can wreak havoc in open-field production systems that rely on the right weather patterns to produce good yields. For this reason, many producers worldwide have turned to growing crops in tunnels or greenhouses. These production systems offer protection from changing weather patterns, allowing them to grow crops throughout the year.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Saving Soil: Harnessing The Microbiome
FarmBiz

Saving Soil: Harnessing The Microbiome

We live in unprecedented times.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Summer Grain Production: A Producer's Perspective
FarmBiz

Summer Grain Production: A Producer's Perspective

The 2020 planting season for producers in the summer rainfall areas is here and most of them are looking forward to the first summer rains so that they can plant their crops. FarmBiz spoke to Jaco Minnaar from the farm Uitsny near Henneman about the new season. Jaco is vice-chairperson of Agri SA and currently serves on the Senwes board.

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2020
Electronic Auctions: The New Normal?
FarmBiz

Electronic Auctions: The New Normal?

The South African livestock industry has suffered a tremendous setback with challenges posed to physical auctions. However, the industry is nothing if not resilient. The first ban on livestock auctions was imposed during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2019.

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2020
Oxygen Types That Damage Crops In Extreme Weather Conditions
FarmBiz

Oxygen Types That Damage Crops In Extreme Weather Conditions

Oxygen is best known as a life-giving gas without which life as we know it, would not be possible.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Asia's Maize Imports Likely To Grow
FarmBiz

Asia's Maize Imports Likely To Grow

In 2019, the Asian maize market was finally on the rise to reach US$204,4 billion after two years of decline. The total consumption indicated buoyant growth from 2009 to 2019. Its value increased at an average annual rate of 5,1% over the last decade.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2020
Cultivated grazing: Fertiliser is the key to success
FarmBiz

Cultivated grazing: Fertiliser is the key to success

Nowadays everything in agriculture has to be done on a larger scale. Cultivated grazing has also become a science, with producers forced to think bigger to get more out of their grazing – all at the most economical cost.

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2020
Industry Giants Comment On Special Adjustment Budget
FarmBiz

Industry Giants Comment On Special Adjustment Budget

Prof Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist, says the supplementary budget delivered by the minister of finance on 24 June was a real shocker. According to him, the government is spending an additional R145 billion on the COVID-19 issue. The real issue, however, is a record budget shortfall due to the economic meltdown, with wrong policy choices and corruption on the cards.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2020
Rethinking The Conversion Process Of Poultry Litter To Biogas
FarmBiz

Rethinking The Conversion Process Of Poultry Litter To Biogas

The poultry industry is generally comprised of broiler chicken production, egg production, day-old chick suppliers and other poultry. While micro-enterprise businesses are gaining prominence as a means to address the challenges of job creation, economic growth and equity, the industry has future challenges concerning poultry litter management.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2020