Agritourism in Kansas: Effects of Distance and Economic Outcomes

Abstract

The agritourism industry is an uneasy mixture of agriculture and tourism. Awareness and development of the industry has only become prominent since the 1980s and ‘90s, and is most developed in the European Union. This study examines the effect of distance on the economic outcomes of agritourism providers in Kansas through a geocoded survey. Gravity models are simulated using distance-modified regression variables. Survey results suggest certain business profiles (tourist traps) and visitor profiles (the day tripper, the RV traveler) are associated with relatively greater success. Model results indicate that distance variables are generally worse predictors of economic outcomes than business characteristics. Among distance variables, proximity to similar businesses and accessibility to major roads carried more weight than available income or population. Tested in alternate regions, results would likely vary due to alternate geophysical, settlement, and wealth patterns.