Coffee cultivation and tourism: Effects of agritourism on sustainable coffee production in Colombia
Summary
Coffee production in Colombia is causing substantial pressure on natural resources and contributes to social, economic and environmental change. This causes a significant threat to ecological factors such as water supply and biodiversity. Another threat with ecological impact to these regions is increased tourism. This research aims to increase knowledge on how coffee agritourism relates to the sustainability of coffee agriculture. A sample of 34 farmers from 8 different regions within the main coffee tourism area of Colombia were interviewed. Furthermore, interviews with other stakeholders of the agriculture and tourism industries are included. Results show that the relation between agritourism and sustainability of coffee cultivation is complex and takes place in the context of several influences, such as the national federation of coffee growers, government regulations and certification schemes. Agritourism contributes to these influences, being positively related to sustainability, mostly through environmental awareness and motivation of farmers to engage in sustainable practices, however a direct causal relation cannot be confirmed.