I've just returned from Europe, where I was invited to speak at the Scottish Agritourism Conference. What an amazing event, very professionally run and such great speakers and conference participants.

​Scottish Agritourism is one of the leading Agritourism organisations in the world and has achieved results in terms of training farmers, influencing government legislation, obtaining funding and building a great membership. It was so nice meeting such passionate agritourism operators and other speakers from around the world. We were also hosted for several days and visited farms with agritourism operations, farm stores and stayed at some beautiful farm accommodation.

It was also interesting to see that more than half the people attending the conference (around 350 people) had been to New Zealand working on farms and/or had family here.
Such lovely people, such a beautiful country... I've learned a lot myself and am feeling inspired to move Agritourism NZ to the next level.

We did it! Agritourism NZ has just received the Qualmark Gold Award!

A big thank you to everyone that keeps encouraging and supporting the Agritourism NZ journey to help farmers and landowners build strong and sustainable businesses. It's been a long and windy road, and we couldn't have done it without you!

What does a Qualmark Gold Accreditation mean?
"A Gold business is a best-in-class sustainable tourism business in New Zealand, delivering exceptional customer experiences, an integral part of everything they do. A Gold Sustainable Tourism Accreditation identifies those businesses leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world-class sustainable visitor destination."
See: https://qualmark.co.nz/how-qualmark-works/sustainable-tourism-business-criteria for more information

Qualmark's criteria have also become the first in New Zealand to gain official recognition by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), meaning members can be confident that achieving Qualmark certification meets global standards of sustainability.

Our partnership with Qualmark benefits our members and Agritourism Academy & Community with ongoing workshops, tools and expertise in to help build strong, sustainable businesses.

Join us at the Agri Innovation Summits to delve into on-farm diversification. 

The evening will start with Cameron Bagrie, who will offer invaluable insights into current economic trends. Following this, three expert speakers will present practical approaches for generating additional income streams within sheep and beef farming. They will cover a range of topics, including solar energy, agri-tourism, and developing a farm-to-plate brand. 

Each speaker will share innovative strategies and real-world examples for reducing costs and creating supplementary revenue. Dinner provided with drinks generously sponsored by Bayleys! 

Guest speakers

Cameron Bagrie – Bagrie Economics
Cameron Bagrie, a renowned economist with a deep understanding of New Zealand's agricultural sector, will provide an economic outlook for the farming industry. His insights will help attendees understand market trends, financial risks, and opportunities for growth. Cameron's expertise is instrumental for farmers looking to navigate the complex economic landscape and make informed decisions.

Duncan Humm – local farmer creating additional revenue through solar
Duncan Humm, a deer farmer from Mt Somers in Mid Canterbury, who will be speaking about his innovative journey into land-use diversification. Duncan has successfully leased part of his family's 150ha dryland farm for solar farming, partnering with HES Aotearoa and Solar South West to develop a 35ha solar farm. He will share insights into how this sustainable approach not only supports renewable energy but also allows for simultaneous crop production and livestock grazing under the solar panels. Don’t miss his valuable perspectives on sustainable and profitable farming practices.

 Duncan Smith & Annabel Tapley-Smith – Waipawa Butchery 
Duncan Smith and Annabel Tapley-Smith farm Patangata Station in Central Hawkes Bay and have diversified their operations by acquiring Waipawa Butchery. They will share their journey of integrating farm production with retail, offering a unique perspective on adding value to farm products. Their story is an inspiring example of on-farm diversification.

Marijke Dunselman - Agritourism NZ
Marijke Dunselman, founder of Agritourism New Zealand, is a seasoned professional in (agri)tourism business and marketing consulting. Having worked with hundreds of farmers and tourism businesses as a consultant and trained thousands of businesses for over 26 years, she has a  profound understanding of the (agri)tourism sector. In 2019, Marijke took her passion for the field a step further by establishing Agritourism New Zealand. The organisation seeks to uplift farming communities by promoting agritourism opportunities, fostering income diversification, and enhancing resilience. This is achieved through the development of training programmes, speaking engagements, networking, advocacy & research, and marketing.

The Experience Agritourism in Tassie's North is not far away! (31st July - 5th Aug)

A little bit of background. Last year, I was invited by Allison Clark (Agritourism Tasmania) to speak at the Agricultured Conference in Launceston.

The conference was one of the most exciting and interesting events I’ve been to, and Allison and I hit it off due to our mutual passion for innovation and collaboration in agritourism. We started talking about a collaboration between Agritourism Tasmania and Agritourism New Zealand where we would invite New Zealand agritourism operators to Tasmania this year and next year, invite Tasmanian operators to New Zealand.
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Allison and her team went to work and have organised a fantastic 5-day experience combining the AgriCULTURED Conference along with a trip in Tasmania’s North where you’ll discover all about the fascinating culture and heritage, agri-food and agritourism.

This webinar, hosted by the Global Agritourism Network can now be viewed on Youtube showcasing three successful agritourism operators in New Zealand. Enjoy!

​JOIN US FOR THIS WEBINAR ORGANISED BY THE GLOBAL AGRITOURISM NETWORK ON FRIDAY 19TH APRIL AT 9AM (NZST):

AGRITOURISM MARKETING: THREE REMARKABLE CASE STUDIES IN NEW ZEALAND
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Register at Webinar Registration: https://www.uvm.edu/vtrc/future-agritourism-gatherings
Moderator: Marijke Dunselman, Founder of Agritourism New Zealand & the Agritourism Academy.

Panelists:
Shaun Monk — Island Hills Station Walk www.islandhillsstation.com
Amber Tyrrell — Valley Views Glamping www.valleyviews.co.nz
Rachel Bartrum — Lynton Downs Farmstay www.lyntondowns.co.nz

Description:
What are the most successful strategies for marketing agritourism operations? Join Marijke Dunselman, Founder of Agritourism New Zealand, and three farmers to hear their tips, tricks, and lessons learned.
Marijke will start off the webinar with an overview of agritourism marketing. Amber Tyrrell from Valley Views Glamping will share how their agritourism glamping business has grown through social media marketing. Shaun Monk from Island Hills Station will talk about how his business grew after the borders closed due to Covid and had to focus on the domestic market with the support of media, especially TV and newspaper for their 3-day walk on a high-country station. Rachel Bartrum from Lynton Downs Farmstay, a historic homestead that has been restored after a severe earthquake, hosts mainly international visitors through travel agents.
We’ll explore how these three different approaches to marketing have relevance for agritourism operations of all sizes in all different parts of the world.
To register for this free webinar, visit:
https://www.uvm.edu/vtrc/future-agritourism-gatherings

We did it!

It's been a huge job and it's been a few years in its development... but, we did it!
​The doors of the Agritourism Academy & Community are now open :)

The Agritourism Academy is a new (first of its kind) 'one-stop-shop' online community to help farmers and land owners start and grow a successful agritourism business.

We'll provide all the training, planners & resources you need, connect you with like-minded agritourism operators, hold live sessions, and support you on your agritourism journey saving you time and money by getting it right from the start. 

Click on the button below to check out what's included and AN AMAZING INTRODUCTORY OFFER of 50% OFF + BONUSES for the first year! This offer expires on the 31st of March 2024, so join now!

Tourism has long been identified as one of the most prosperous industries for New Zealand, not only helping tourists visit the amazing place we call home but also providing thousands of jobs up and down the country.

​A sub-category within the tourism industry that continues to grow is the burgeoning sector of Agritourism in New Zealand. Industry expert and Agritourism NZ CEO Marijke Dunselman shares her insights and strategies for success.

With a focus on New Zealand's central Otago region, Dunselman discusses the changing landscape of tourism, noting a significant increase in affluent travellers. This demographic shift, as Dunselman points out, leads to longer stays and higher spending, particularly from American and European visitors. 

"At the moment, people are spending more and staying longer," she observes, highlighting a trend that benefits local businesses and encourages deeper regional exploration. 

Dunselman emphasises the importance of rural experiences in enhancing New Zealand's reputation as a safe, premium travel destination. She discusses her collaboration with high-country stations to refine their offerings.

"It's really fine-tuning that offering and the pricing and the marketing." 

She also touches on the potential for collaboration between farms to create high-value experiences, like developing multi-day walks. Another focal point of the conversation is the agritourism Academy, which Dunselman has been developing for a year. The academy offers a platform for online learning, community interaction, and a wealth of resources for agritourism operators.

"There's all these very in-depth training courses," Dunselman explains, also mentioning weekly Q&A sessions and the opportunity for community members to collaborate and support each other. 

Looking ahead, Dunselman talks about an upcoming free webinar aimed at those curious about agritourism. Scheduled for February 23rd, the webinar aims to shed light on the viability and opportunities within the sector. She also shares plans for an exchange program with Agritourism Tasmania, including a trip to a notable Agritourism conference and reciprocal visits to foster cross-cultural collaboration and learning. 

The episode encapsulates the essence of New Zealand's agritourism potential, driven by knowledgeable and passionate individuals like Marijke Dunselman. Through her insights, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the sector's dynamics and the strategies needed to navigate and thrive within it.

In a year that has challenged many Kiwis, with multiple devastating weather events, a national election and more Founder and CEO of Agritourism NZ Marijke Dunselman tells REX host Dom George that she is optimistic about the emerging trends in agritourism and recounts her experiences with innovative farming operations that have created memorable experiences and lucrative income streams. 

She highlights the recent launch of the Agri-tourism Accelerator, a training program that has added value to 94 farmers' lives. She also discusses her role as the chair of the education committee for the newly formed global agritourism network, reflecting her commitment to promoting agritourism. 

"The trends are great. People are coming back, international visitors, and they're spending more and they're staying longer," she says.

This shows that the agritourism sector is attracting attention and interest from both local and international tourists. She further mentions the increasing demand for tourism experiences within New Zealand and globally. 

Dunselman recounts her experience speaking at various conferences and interacting with farming groups. She observes a rise in interest in agritourism among farmers, as evidenced by her interactions. 

"I've been talking to a lot of farmers this year...But the trends are great." 

The conversation also touches on Agritourism NZ's partnerships with other organisations, including MediaWorks and PurePods. Dunselman expresses excitement about these partnerships and their potential to advance the agritourism industry. 

Looking ahead, she talks about launching the Agritourism Academy and online community in January, which aims to provide resources and information to those interested in growing their agritourism business. 

It's always great to connect with Dom. We had a good chat about Agritourism when I met with him in the studio in Dunedin in October 2023. 
​Watch this space as we are planning a series of Agritourism Podcasts in the near future.
To listen to this podcast, click on the button below.

Twenty-three farmers and rural landowners participated in a workshop designed to support potential agri-tourism operators across the Whanganui province.

Whanganui & Partners hosted an agri-tourism workshop with agri-business strategic consultancy group Agritourism NZ, delivering a full-day seminar providing insight into the economic and sustainable benefit of “tourism in our own backyard”.

The group present will now form a network to collaborate with other agritourism operators around New Zealand.

Educational tours, multi-day walks, wine tasting or cheese-making are just some of the ideas that future agri-tourism business owners could be looking at providing, promoting provincial New Zealand to the world.

“We had an amazing turnout and great engagement in the agri-tourism workshop, with many ideas and opportunities for farmers and landowners to set up or expand their rural offering,” Whanganui & Partners’ strategic lead for agriculture, Colleen Sheldon, said.​

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article in the Auckland Herald

The Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA) wants to diversify farms in the Manawatū with the introduction of their new Regional Agritourism Accelerator Programme.
Tailored to any farmer seeking to venture into tourism, CEDA in partnership with Agritourism NZ can help them add value to their farming operations.
Coming to Manawatū on May 8, the pilot programme will cover everything from starting a business to marketing and product development. Click here to read more.

​Shaun Monk says it took his friends, Island Hills Station owners Dan and Mandy Shand, “about three seconds” to give the green light to his idea for a hiking experience on their land.

He now runs tramps on the Northern Canterbury station, and says they attract people for all sorts of reasons.

“Once you cross that cattle stop you leave the rest of the world behind the boundary fence, you also get to meet cute farm animals, meet hearty people, and exercise in fresh scenery,” Monk said. 

​Agritourism is a growing industry worldwide. It's where agriculture and tourism meet, and gives people from both ends of the rural/urban divide the opportunity to connect and provides some much-needed tourism numbers back to rural areas of the country. Marijke Dunselman is the founder of Agritourism NZ and joined Dom for some insight into the ever-growing sectors return to form post-pandemic.

This article appeared in the Farmer's Weekly on the 20th of March 2023.

We have developed a new programme for farmers who are interested in starting or growing an agritourism business. This 6-month course will be run in regions around New Zealand from starting in May 2023. 
It starts with a full day course in each region followed by five webinars. 
Below are 2 new videos outlining what agritourism is with lots of examples and benefits, and about the new programme. Registrations are now open and new regions are still added, so do register your interest on this page: ​www.agritourism.nz/2023-regional-agritourism-accelerator.html

I'd like to invite you to join the new Agritourism NZ (Private) Facebook Group, a group for anyone interested in farm diversification through Agritourism. 
Whether you're starting, running or growing an agritourism business, this group is a place to discuss all things agritourism such as product development, marketing strategies, health & safety, distribution and practical questions. We'll also provide tips and ideas. 
While you can ask as many agritourism-related questions as you like, please do also give back to the group and support and respond to other members too!
It'll be a great place to network too!
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Please note: while people offering agritourism services are welcome here, this is not a place to tout for clients or to promote your own agritourism products or services.
Thanks, Marijke