People-First Tourism Lab Blog

  Introducing creative tourism microentrepreneurs As I sit here at my desk, I am faced directly towards a small bulletin board, which proudly displays a collection of postcards from my few but memorable trips around the world, both near and far. I also see photos of places I dream of one day being able to see in real life, such as the Northern Lights above the mountains of Alaska. From these pictures, I am not only reminded of some of my favorite times in my life, but also of the immense transformational power that travel has on individuals. It allows us to learn more about ourselves, become more culturally-aware, form connections with others, get out of our comfort zone and allow communities to protect their culture and natural resources thanks to the economic benefits generated by visitors. From this perspective, tourism seems like a win-win for hosts and guests. However, once you take a closer look at the role tourism plays in shaping the social, economic, and environmental sect

Farmers are resourceful entrepreneurs that overcome many challenges to keep their farms financially viable, ensure their legacy of land ownership and stewardship, and grow healthy food for their communities.   Much like all other entrepreneurs, farmers pivot their business approaches to adapt to new market opportunities, including sales of product to restaurants and of product and experiences to visitors.   While these pivots may help diversify their revenue streams, their involvement in tourism exposes them to new challenges. Here are some of the key findings from this study:  Farmers are integrated in the State’s tourism system in multiple and changing ways.  Both men and women farmers reported being less interested in providing farm tours, and identified these tours as important sources of income in relation to other sources.  Women farmers reported an increased interest in product and experience sales in comparison to pre-pandemic levels.  Women farmers reported being more sati