Introduction
It can be said that tourists – consumers of rural tourism mostly belong to the group of above-average educated people, who prefer lesser-known destinations and holidays outside the main season, and are motivated to find out more about the local culture, to learn about the local lifestyle and are caring for the environment.
Important groups of visitors in rural tourism are:
- One-day visitors – a particularly important group from larger urban centers (further growth in demand is expected)
- Visitors on short vacations – the division of vacation days into several shorter ones as a general trend is also visible in rural tourism, where it is expected to experience more in shorter time.
- Families with children – they are a particularly important group, and their special needs should be taken into account, such as safety and entertainment for children.
- The third age – rural destinations are popular destinations for senior population that appreciates rural tradition, peace and opportunities for light recreation (e.g. walks). It is important to take into account the special needs of this segment, such as safety, comfort and eating habits (possible dietary requirements).
- Special interests – in the last ten years there has been a noticeable increase in interest in rural areas among special interest groups, such as cyclists or walkers, but increasingly also very specialized groups such as wine-gastronomists, bird watchers and ethnology enthusiasts.
- Groups – primarily groups of school children, youth groups (various clubs and associations), special interest groups.
- People with special needs. Service providers must pay attention to infrastructural details, such as: wheelchair ramps in places where there are stairs, bathroom doors at least 75 cm wide, etc.
What do guests expect?
- What they see need to correspond to what you promoted and presented in your promotion
- Everything is clean, tidy and well maintained
- It’s easy to get to, the parking lot is big enough
- They can easily orient themselves, the movement is logical
- The staff is visible, accessible, friendly and provides instructions
- Guest facilities are safe and accessible for all guests, especially small children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
- Restrooms and drinking water are available for off-site activities
- WiFi is available outside the facilities
- Payment can be made with cards
OVERVIEW OF IDEAS AND PRACTICAL ADVICES ON HOW YOU CAN ENRICH THE TOURIST OFFER
1. Active
These activities can improve the quality of time that tourists spend on your farm or facility:
- Cycling. Tourists can ride bicycles on special bicycle paths, local or rural roads, but also on forest paths and more difficult terrains. Get new or repair your old bikes and rent them out to tourists. Equip yourself with simple tools for bicycle service (pump, spare tires, valves, etc.). You can also organize a small cycling competition for your guests
- Walking in nature. A walk in nature offers the opportunity to simply get to know new places and experience a series of beautiful experiences. Prepare a map with marked trails, mark some of your trails, clearly present to tourists the difficulty of the trails and the time required for them. Include a nature walk in your tourist offer.
- Walks through the nature with a guide. This walk should, in addition to beautiful landscapes and forest areas, present tourists with the wealth of flora and fauna. Teach the tourists about the rare plant and animal species from your area and base the story on your experiences with those species. In certain places, you can place panels or information boards that would supplement your explanations.
- Boating. If there is a river or lake, get an adequate boat and enable tourists to get to know your area from the water perspective. Pay attention to security issues.
- Ball sports. Football, volleyball or badminton – it doesn’t need to be only on arranged sport fields. It feels good to play on grass or sand. You can hang a rope between two trees in your orchard or yard and easily mark the terrain.
- Swimming pool. Set up a pool in the backyard. Use solar energy to heat it to extend the season
- Wellness and spa. Create an oasis of peace and relaxation in a part of your household. Provide facilities for tourists even when the weather is bad outside.
- Archery. Shooting a target with a bow and arrow is a good way to spend time in the area around the object. The bow and arrow can be made of wood and string, and the target can be a painted wooden board or a sandbag. You must point out the safety of the participants, as unwanted injuries may occur.
- Bird watching. Create a poster with photos and descriptions of birds that are seen in your area. Make a map with the places from where you can watch the birds and place a bench in those places. Get binoculars and rent them or just give them away for free to tourists.
- Rock climbing. An extreme sport that requires good equipment and well-tested terrain. It is usually organized in cooperation with professional clubs.
- Horse riding. Tourists, especially children, can ride horses in the fenced area. You can also organize a riding school and charge extra.
- Driving quad bikes. You may already have an ATV that you use for more difficult trails. Rent it out to tourists who have the proper driving license.
- Sledding. Sledding is not only an activity for children, but for the whole family. Prepare a suitable trail in your neighborhood and suggest it to your tourists as an activity they can do.
- Hunting and fishing. Hunting is usually carried out in cooperation with specialized hunting associations. Help fishermen to buy a fishing license. You can rent fishing equipment or a boat to fishermen.
- Mini golf. This can be a funny way for guests to spend part of the day. It could be a small area behind the house, where you would dig a few holes and put up a few obstacles for the ball. You can find creative schemes for mini golf courses on the Internet.
- Playroom for smaller children. If you are skilled in woodworking, you can set up small houses where children will enjoy spending time.
- Walking along challenging hiking trails. Only for the most physically fit tourists. The dangers that can happen during the walk should be mentioned several times.
2. Learn something new
Tourists are interested in seeing something new. They also want to learn how the things were done in past. You can organize workshops on topics that are your specialty and where you know the answers to all questions. Prepare the space for the workshop. It can be an already existing space: garage, barn, stable, workshop, kitchen, basement, etc. You can create a completely new space, specially prepared for presentations. Pay particular attention to the limitation of the number of tourists who can listen or actively participate in the workshop or training (e.g. sufficient number of tools, chairs, gloves, etc.).
- Culinary workshop. You need a kitchen where you will prepare local dishes together with tourists. When you prepare them together, try them together.
- Preparation of takeaway products. Workshop for making local specialties, brandy, jams, sweets. Together with the tourists, make a final product that they can either consume and take home.
- Sheep shearing. Show how sheep are sheared. Then let the tourists try it themselves. Explain what happens to the wool afterwards.
- Spinning of wool. Show how wool is spun. Tourists can use the spindle and shape the woolen threads themselves. You can make small spindles on which they can spin some wool themselves, which they can take with them. Small spindles can also be sold as individual souvenirs.
- Herb harvesting. Organize herb picking with expert guidance. You can show tourists how the harvested plants are made into different wreaths that they can take with them. You can emphasize medicinal herbs.
- Astronomy. Get a home telescope and set up a star chart of the sky. It requires a good knowledge of astronomy, accompanying maps, a good view of the sky and good weather.
- Production of organic food. Presentation of the production process and its importance for the environment. You can make the presentation in the garden or in a place where organic products are displayed. The presentation may be associated with a “pick and choose” sale.
- Mowing. First, explain what is needed for mowing (scythe, hammer, anvil…). Show how to hold the scythe properly and be patient. Keep in mind that the tourists will not be able to do the work for you, they will only mow a few swaths while taking pictures.
- Pumpkin carving. An art workshop that everyone will remember. You can make simple models that participants can make themselves. You can later decorate the pumpkins with candles, but also with various other decorations from nature.
- Feeding domestic animals. This is an activity mainly intended for children. The maximum safety of tourists and animals must be taken into account.
- “Plant your tree”. Tourists can plant a tree in the selected place. That tree may have a small plaque with the name of the person who planted it. It is not good to plant a tree when the vegetation does not allow it, because a failed planting can have a negative effect on tourists later.
- Kneading and baking bread in an old oven. You can show tourists how to knead the bread that would later be offered to them during the meal.
- Wine and brandy tasting. This activity is mainly organized on farms that make wine or brandy. But if you are in a wine region, organize a tasting of several different wines from the region. The tasting is accompanied by carefully selected food. Prepare the drinks and food that you will serve on time and think about the musical accompaniment of the whole event.
- Tasting of products from the farm. If you produce several different products, present them to tourists.
- Basket weaving. A forgotten skill that can be shown to tourists and in which they can participate. It can be presented in different stages of work (material preparation, bottom treatment…). Perhaps it is best to involve tourists in the final stage of weaving.
- Making charcoal. Tourists can be involved in the process of making charcoal, from wood sorting and burning to charcoal extraction.
3. Services
Services provided in a rural environment are different from those in an urban environment. That is why the mentioned activities can be interesting for tourists coming from cities:
- Holiday on a farm – Spending a leisurely holiday close to animals gives a feeling of closeness to life in nature.
- Events. Weddings, birthdays, corporate and other events – Many people want to have something different for “their day” than the boring celebrations in restaurants. The organization of such events requires the necessary experience of the host.
- “Lunch on the grass”. Eating in nature is something that city dwellers rarely have the opportunity to do. You can offer a complete meal or just a space where guests will bring their own food, and you will provide them with the infrastructure.
- Camping. At the camping site, it is necessary to arrange plots where it is possible to set up tents. Ensure the use of electricity and toilet facilities.
- Themed dinners. You can offer to organize various themed programs with accompanying program (traditional games and adequate music).
- Equipment rental. Boats, fishing equipment, camping equipment, bicycles… It is necessary that in your environment there is the possibility of using rented equipment.
4. Direct sale of products
With this type of selling, you can skip the wholesale and will be able to charge a higher price for your products or services
- “Pick and choose” – fruits, vegetables, flowers, Christmas trees. This is a sale where tourists come to your orchard, vegetable garden, etc. they look around and choose specifically which fruits to buy and pick them themselves. After that, the products are measured and charged per kilogram or per piece
- Product delivery to specific addresses. Offer delivery – to tourist home, businesses, restaurants
- Selling your products online
- Sale of gifts. E.g. “basket of local products” – tourists or companies give away local products to their friends or business partners
- Roadside sales. Selling on the road (usually in front of your own farm). You can make a small stand where seasonal products are presented.
5. Special events
These events are an excellent opportunity to see what other service providers in rural tourism are doing and to gather important contacts, both with potential tourists and potential partners.
- Festivals. Can you organize your own festival. If not, organize the visit to festivals organized by others
- Wine tours. Connect several wine producers and there you have it, a new gastronomic offer.
- Find the treasure. Create your own digital lost treasure hunt game app.
