Factor that Affect Arkansas Farm Operators’ and Landowners’ Decision to Participate in Agritourism

This study utilizes survey data analyzed at the regional level to obtain additional insights which may be left unnoticed if the analysis only considers data at the state level. The current analysis reveals that farm operators’ and/or landowners’ decision to participate in the agritourism industry in Arkansas is affected by state government infrastructure. But these infrastructures are varied among regions. The infrastructures are state government support in training the farm operators; in promotion and marketing as well as certainty and transparency in laws and regulations. State government’s sponsored trainings in agritourism along with marketing and promotion are viewed as the most important factors in all studied regions that affect operators’ decision to participate in the program. This finding suggests that state agricultural extension agencies can play an important role in the future to ensure the success of the newly developed agritourism industry in Arkansas.