The contribution of agritourism to social innovation and sustainable development in the rural areas of the Portuguese Beja region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15678/SER.2025.2.04Keywords:
Agritourism, Social innovation, Sustainable development, Beja regionAbstract
Background: Nowadays, agritourism constitutes an alternative activity to traditional agriculture, fostering socioeconomic dynamics and promoting social innovation in rural territories.
Research objectives: This study aimed to analyze the contribution of agritourism to social innovation and sustainable development in rural areas of the Beja region (Portugal).
Research design and methods: Methodology followed a qualitative case study approach, involving eight microenterprises. The study involved the analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews with the companies’ managers to validate a theoretical model based on two key propositions. These premises assume that agritourism businesses contribute to social innovation and the region’s sustainable development.
Results: The results show a consensus on the environmental, economic, and social contributions of agritourism, while perceptions regarding social innovation revealed some variability. Nevertheless, the analysis validated the defined propositions.
Conclusions: Findings suggest an overall positive effect of agritourism on the region, supporting its relevance as a driver of sustainable development and social innovation.
Downloads
References
Abadi, A., & Khakzand, M. (2022). Extracting the qualitative dimensions of agritourism for the sustainable development of Charqoli village in Iran: The promotion of vernacular entrepreneurship and environment-oriented preservation perspectives. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 24, 12609–12671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01958-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01958-0
Alegre, I., & Berbegal-Mirabet, J. (2016). Social innovation success factors: hospitality and tourism social enterprises. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 28(6),1155–1176. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2014-0231 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2014-0231
Alkier, R., Milojica, V., & Roblek, V. (2017). Challenges of the social innovation in tourism. 4th International Scientific Conference ToSEE-Tourism in Southern and Eastern Europe 2017 Tourism and Creative Industries: Trends and Challenges, 4(2004), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.20867/tosee.04.24 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20867/tosee.04.24
Alves-Pinto, H., Latawiec, A., Strassburg, B., Barros, F., Sansevero, J., Iribarrem, A., & Silva, A. (2017). Reconciling rural development and ecological restoration: Strategies and policy recommendations for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Land Use Policy, 60(2017), 419–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.08.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.08.004
Ayob, N., Teasdale, S., & Fagan, K. (2016). How social innovation “Came to Be:” Tracing the evolution of a contested concept. Journal of Social Policy, 45(4), 635–653. https://doi.org/10.1017/S004727941600009X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S004727941600009X
Barbieri, C. (2012). Assessing the sustainability of agritourism in the us: A comparison between agritourism and other farm entrepreneurial ventures. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(2), 252–270. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2012.685174 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2012.685174
Batle, J., Orfila-Sintes, F., & Moon, C. (2018). Environmental management best practices: Towards social innovation. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 69(August), 14–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2017.10.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2017.10.013
Broccardo, L., Culasso, F. & Truant. E. (2017). Unlocking value creation using an agritourism business model. Sustainability, 9, 1618. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9091618 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su9091618
Cheteni, P., & Umejesi, I. (2022). Evaluating the sustainability of agritourism in the wild coast region of South Africa. Cogents Economics & Finance, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2163542 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2163542
Chiodo, E., Fantini, A., Dickes, L., Arogundade, T., Lamie, R., Assing, L., Stewart, C., & Salvatore, R. (2019). Agritourism in mountainous regions: Insights from an international perspective. Sustainability, 11(13), 3715. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133715 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133715
Ciolac, R., Adamov, T., Iancu, T., Popescu, G., Lile, R., Rujescu, C., & Marin, D. (2019). Agritourism: A sustainable development factor for improving the ‘health’ of rural settlements. Case study Apuseni Mountains Area. Sustainability, 11(5), 1467. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051467 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051467
Ciolac, R., Adamov, T., Popescu, G., Marin, D., & Bodnár, K. (2022). Agritourism-capitalization possibility of rural community resources. Acta Carolus Robertus, 12(Különszám), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.33032/acr.3404 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33032/acr.3404
Ćirić, M., Tešanović, D., Kalenjuk Pivarski, B., Ćirić, I., Banjac, M., Radivojević, G., Grubor, B., Tošić, P., Simović, O., & Šmugović, S. (2021). Analyses of the attitudes of agricultural holdings on the development of agritourism and the impacts on the economy, society and environment of Serbia. Sustainability, 13(24), 13729. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413729 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413729
Dickes, L., Arogundade, T., & Lamie, D. (2020). Rural innovation and entrepreneurial motivation: The case of agritourism with new and beginning farmers in a Southern US State. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 24(3), 1–12. Retrieved from https://www.abacademies.org/articles/Rural-Innovation-and-Entrepreneurial-Motivation:-The-Case-of-Agritourism-with-New-and-Beginning-Farmer.pdf
Dionizi, B., & Kërçini, D. (2025). Sustainable business models in agritourism: An opportunity for achieving SDGS and circular economy. Journal of Lifestyle and SDGs Review, 1(5), e03957. https://doi.org/10.47172/2965-730X.SDGsReview.v5.n01.pe03957 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47172/2965-730X.SDGsReview.v5.n01.pe03957
Easton, G. (2000). Case research as a method for industrial networks: A realist apologia. In: Realist Perspectives on Management and Organisations. Routledge, London and New York.
Eisenhardt, K. (1989). Building theories from case study Research. Academy of Management Review 14(4), 532–550. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/258557
European Council (2025). The common agricultural policy explained. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/pt/policies/the-common-agricultural-policy-explained/
EY-Parthenon (2020). Estratégia Regional de Desenvolvimento Turístico do Alentejo e Ribatejo 2021–27. https://www.visitribatejo.pt/fotos/editor2/pdfs/Documentos_Estrategicos/ERT_Alentejo_Relatorio_Final_122020.pdf
Faísco, A., Simplício, D. & Carmo, A. (2021). Enoturismo e desenvolvimento local: Reguengos de Monsaraz, cidade europeia do vinho 2015. Revista de geografia e ordenamento do território (GOT) 21(Junho). Centro de Estudos de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território, 290–310. dx.doi.org/10.17127/got/2021.21.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17127/got/2021.21.012
Fontan, J., Klein, J., & Tremblay, D. (2005). Innovation socio-territoriale et reconversion économique. L’Harmattan. L’Harmattan.
Gajić, T., Petrović, M., Blešić, I., Radovanović, M., Spasojević, A., Sekulić, D., Penić, M., Demirović Bajrami, D., & Dubover, D. (2024). The contribution of the farm to table concept to the sustainable development of agritourism homesteads. Agriculture, 14(8), 1314. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081314
Gomes, J., & Madeira, M. (2017). Impacto da Orientação para o mercado sobre a inovação: Estudo de Casos em PMEs ‘Cacereñas’ [Paper presentation]. APDR Congress, UBI-Covilhã, Portugal. https://apdr.pt/data/documents/Proceedings_APDRCongress2017.pdf
Grillini, G., Streifeneder, T., Stotten, R., Scherm, M. & Fischer, C. (2025). How tourism change farms: The impact of agritourism on organic farming adoption and local community interaction in the Tyrol-Trentino mountain region. Journal of Rural Studies, 114(22),103531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103531 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103531
Gôja, R., Santos, V. & Duxbury (2021). O estado do conhecimento sobre o turismo nas áreas não-metropolitanas de portugal continental (2010-2020). Revista Portuguesa de Estudos Regionais, 59, 99–117. https://doi.org/10.59072/rper.vi59.96 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59072/rper.vi59.96
Hassan, K., Mahbub, T., & Chowdhury, Md. (2023). Agritourism, community attachment and contribution towards tourism and community. Tourism, 71(4), 708–722. https://doi.org/10.37741/t.71.4.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37741/t.71.4.4
Khamung, R. (2015). A study of cultural heritage and sustainable agriculture conservation as a means to develop rural farms as agritourism destinations. Silpakorn University Journal of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, 15(3), 1–36. Retrieved August 21, 2025, from https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/hasss/article/view/44670
Lak, A., & Khairabadi, O. (2022). Leveraging agritourism in rural areas in developing countries: The case of Iran. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 4, 863385. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2022.863385. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2022.863385
Malek, A., & Costa, C. (2015). Integrating communities into tourism planning through social innovation. Tourism Planning & Development, 12(3), 281–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/2 1568316.2014.951125 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2014.951125
Mosedale, J. & Voll, F. (2017). Social innovations in tourism: Social practices contributing to social development. In: Sheldon, P., Daniele, R. (eds). Social entrepreneurship and tourism: Tourism on the verge. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0_6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0_6
Moulaert, F., Martinelli, F., Swyngedouw, E., Gonzalez, S. (2005). Towards alternative model(s) of local innovation, Urban Studies, 42(11), 1669–1990. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980500279893 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980500279893
Moulaert, F., MacCallum, D., Mehmood, A., Hamdouch, A. (2013). The international handbook on social innovation: Collective action, social learning and transdisciplinary research. Cheltenham & Northampton, Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849809993 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849809993
Mulyani, Y., Kholifah, N., Saputro, I., Witarsana, I., & Wurarah, R. (2022). Strategies for village tourism development in coastal during Covid-19: Challenges and opportunities. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 43(3), 887–894. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.43307-901 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.43307-901
Muwani, T., Marime, S., Ranganai, N. & Mutipforo, G. (2024). Digital technologies for sustainable agritourism and human development. Agritourism for Sustainable Development: Reflections from Emerging African Economies, 14, 189–206. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800623705.0014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800623705.0014
Nasution, Z., & Sirojuzilman, S. (2023). The mediating role of integrated agritourism cluster development on regional development in Indonesia. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 17(2), 449–469. https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2023.2230582 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2023.2230582
Ndhlovu, E., & Dube, K. (2024). Agritourism and sustainability: A global bibliometric analysis of the state of research and dominant issues. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 46, 100746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2024.100746 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2024.100746
Ohorodnyk, V. & Finger, R. (2024). Envisioning the future of agritourism in Ukraine: from minor role to viable farm households and sustainable regional economies. Journal of Rural Studies, 103283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103283 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103283
Oropeza-Tosca, D., Rincón-Molina, C., Baptista, A., & Notario-Priego, R. (2024). Perspective chapter: Development of business in rural southeastern Mexican communities and environmental awareness. Intech Open. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1007675 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1007675
Palmi, P., & Lezzi, G. (2020). How authenticity and tradition shift into sustainability and innovation: Evidence from Italian agritourism. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15),5389. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH17155389 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155389
Paniccia, P., & Baiocco, S. (2021). Interpreting sustainable agritourism through co-evolution of social organizations. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(1), 87–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1817046 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1817046
Partanen, M. (2024). Social innovations for inclusive development in tourism: Insights from Kemi, Finland. Nordia Geographical Publications, 53(4), 1–69. https://doi.org/10.30671/nordia.147795 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30671/nordia.147795
Pitarch-Garrido, M. (2022). Social innovation and cultural tourism: A review of co-creation strategies for sustainable tourism. In C. Ribeiro de Almeida, J. Martins, A. Gonçalves, S. Quinteiro, & M. Gasparini (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Cultural Tourism and Sustainability (pp.1–16). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-9217-5.ch001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-9217-5.ch001
Polese, F., Botti, A., Grimaldi, M., Monda, A., & Vesci, M. (2018). Social innovation in smart tourism ecosystems: How technology and institutions shape sustainable value co-creation. Sustainability, 10(2), 140. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010140
Portugal Inovação Social (2025). Apoio ao desenvolvimento de projetos de inovação social. https://pis.portugal2030.pt/
Rodrigues Ferreira, D., Loures, L., & Sánchez-Martín, J.-M. (2023). Spatial analysis of sustainability measures from agritourism in Iberian cross-border regions. Land, 12(4), 826. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040826. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040826
Roman, M., Kudinova, I., Samsonova, V. & Kawęcki, N. (2024). Innovative development of rural green tourism in ukraine. Tourism and Hospitality, 5, 537–558. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp5030033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp5030033
Ruengdet, K., Witoonpan, S., & Somkeatkun, W. (2023). Creative agricultural tourism management model for Pracharath Bang Bai Mai Floating Market, Bang Bai Mai Sub-district, Mueang District, Surat Thani Province. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 48(2spl), 782–791. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.482spl12-1078 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.482spl12-1078
Sangnak, D., Poo-Udom, A., Tamnanwan, P., Kongduang, T., & Chanthothai, S. (2025). Agritourism as a catalyst for sustainable rural development: Innovations, challenges, and policy perspectives in the post-COVID-19 era. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 9(1), 11185. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd11185 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd11185
Saepudin, P., Putra, F., Hernowo, A., Maemunah, I., & Dianawati, N. (2022). Community-based agritourism: A qualitative research of the impacts, opportunities and constraints in a tourist village. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 13(8), 2320–2332. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14505/jemt.v13.8(64).24
Sayadi, S., González-Roa, M., & Calatrava-Requena, J. (2009). Public preferences for landscape features: The case of agricultural landscape in mountainous Mediterranean areas. Journal of Land Use Policy, 26(2), 334–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2008.04.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2008.04.003
Sekar, S., Balakrishnan, S., Soundarraj, P., Kannan, P., Mishra, A., & Mishra, P. (2023). Assessing the impact of agritourism initiatives on rural development and community-based agricultural management. Journal of Environment and Biosciences, 37(02), 155. https://doi.org/10.59467/jebs.2023.37.155 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59467/JEBS.2023.37.155
Sheldon, P., & Daniele, R. (2017). Social entrepreneurship and tourism: Philosophy and practice. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0
Shen, C.-C., Chang, Y.-R., & Liu, D.-J. (2020). Rural tourism and environmental sustainability: A study on a model for assessing the developmental potential of organic agritourism. Sustainability, 12(22), 9642. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229642
Songkhla, T., & Somboonsuke, B. (2013). Interactions between agrotourism and local agricultural resources management: A case study of agrotourism destinations in Chang klang District, Southern Thailand. Discourse Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 54–67. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20143025677
Tiraieyar, N., & Hamzah, A. (2012). Agri-tourism: Potential opportunities for farmers and local communities in Malaysia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(31), 4357–4361. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajarx11.035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJARx11.035
Triani, E. & Bangun, I. (2025). Diversified utilization of rice field functions for agritourism and education development in Denai Lama Village: Economic sustainability innovation in era 4.0. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1445, 012068. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1445/1/012068 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1445/1/012068
Trunfio, M., & Campana, S. (2019). Drivers and emerging innovations in knowledge-based destinations: Towards a research agenda. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 14, 100370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2019.100370 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2019.100370
Tseng, M.-L., Chang, C.-H., Wu, K.-J., Chun-Wei, L., Kalnaovkul, B., & Tan, R. (2019). Sustainable agritourism in Thailand: Modeling business performance and environmental sustainability under Uncertainty. Sustainability, 11(15), 4087. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154087 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154087
Turismo de Portugal. (2025). Estratégia Turismo 2035. https://www.turismodeportugal.pt/pt/Turismo_Portugal/Estrategia/estrategia-turismo-2035/Paginas/default.aspx
United Nations Environment Programme/World Tourism Organization. (2005). Making tourism more sustainable: a guide for policy makers. UNEP/WTO.
Wang, X., & Liu, Q. (2024). Research on environmental protection of rural ecotourism based on psr model. International Journal of e-Collaboration, 20(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJeC.343094 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/IJeC.343094
Wirth, S., Bandi Tanner, M., & Mayer, H. (2022). Social innovations in tourism: Analysing processes, actors, and tipping points. Tourism Geographies, 25(5), 1322–1340. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2022.2155697 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2022.2155697
Xue, L.-L., Chang, Y.-R., & Shen, C.-C. (2020). The sustainable development of organic agriculture-tourism: The role of consumer landscape and pro-environment behavior. Sustainability, 12(15), 6264. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156264 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156264
Yin, R. (2018). case study research and applications: Design and methods (6thed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Yüzbaşıoğlu, N., Çaylak, P. & Topsakal, Y. (2020). Investigation of the capacity of social innovation to create rural development and social change within the scope of tourism industry: The case of kuyucak village. Isparta. https://doi.org/10.33422/3RD.ICBME.2020.03.29 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33422/3rd.icshe.2020.03.10
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
