Bill Overview
Title: AGRITOURISM Act
Description: This bill establishes an office within the Department of Agriculture to promote agritourism activities and businesses.
Sponsors: Rep. Wexton, Jennifer [D-VA-10]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or benefiting from agritourism
Estimated Size: 50000000
- Agritourism involves a range of activities that occur on farms and in rural areas that attract tourists. This can include farm tours, bed and breakfasts, U-pick operations, and food festivals.
- Rural communities and farmers stand to gain from increased tourism, economic activity, and diversification of income sources that come with the promotion of agritourism.
- Tourists and families who engage in outdoor and farm-related recreational activities will have more opportunities and potentially improved facilities.
- Supporting services around agritourism locations, such as local crafts, hospitality, and transportation services, may see economic benefits as well.
Reasoning
- The policy targets rural areas where agritourism can be a viable income source, which could greatly affect the lives of farmers and rural business owners. These areas generally have fewer economic opportunities, so the policy could help by diversifying income sources.
- Because the policy affects rural tourism, it also potentially benefits urban residents who might travel to these destinations for leisure, thus spreading the benefits beyond just the immediate rural communities.
- The budget limits suggest that the rollout will initially be modest, affecting a relatively small proportion of the potential market directly, but it can still serve as a proof of concept and stimulate further investment.
- Since not all rural areas will engage in or develop significant agritourism activities, the impact of the policy will vary greatly depending on the location and existing infrastructure.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (Iowa)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy could really help small farms like mine bring in additional income.
- Hopefully, it will attract more people to our town and help local businesses too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Travel Blogger (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide more destinations and stories for my blog, which is exciting.
- Increased tourism may also lead to overcrowding, so I hope it is managed well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Local government official (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy gives us a chance to diversify our economy and improve local infrastructure.
- Budget constraints might limit how much we can achieve initially, but it's a start.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Bed & Breakfast Owner (Vermont)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy will bring more guests to my B&B and support local farmers and artisans.
- Additional grants or training would be helpful to maximize the benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Nebraska)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm looking forward to visiting new places and seeing what they have to offer.
- There might be an increase in traffic which could be inconvenient.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Chef (North Carolina)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Expanding agritourism can increase demand for local products and potentially raise costs, which concerns me.
- However, it might also improve the variety of local products we can access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Rancher (Montana)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic that this policy will bring more guests during the off-season.
- Enhancing our marketing will be key to leveraging new opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Student (New York City, New York)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide more educational and recreational travel options.
- Concerns about environmental impact if not managed sustainably.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Homemaker (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope agritourism will lead to more local events and learning opportunities about gardening.
- Unsure how much it will affect me personally, but it sounds promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Craft Brewer (Oregon)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy could boost local markets and introduce craft brewing to more tourists.
- Ensuring quality and authenticity in tourism experiences will be important.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $43000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $47000000, High: $68000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The establishment of the office will have startup costs that decrease over time as the office becomes efficient.
- Integration with existing rural development and tourism initiatives could influence the magnitude and realization of anticipated benefits.
- Coordination with state and local governments is crucial for maximizing the impact of agritourism initiatives.
- The unpredictable nature of tourism demand, which may be affected by economic conditions and consumer preferences, could impact the effectiveness of the bill.