Editorial: Agritourism and Local Development: Innovations, Collaborations, and Sustainable Growth

Chiedza Ngonidzashe Mutanga ^1* Oliver Chikuta ²

• ¹ Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
• ² Nanjing Tech University Pujiang Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

Editorial on the research topic: Agritourism and Local Development: Innovations, Collaborations, and Sustainable Growth Rural areas' distinctive recreational value is being diminished by the unregulated effects of human activity, fast urbanisation, and massive infrastructure expansion, which are all destroying the natural and social landscapes of rural areas (Fong, 2017). Agritourism provides a sustainable substitute that supports international initiatives to address environmental issues and the increasing depletion of natural resources (Paniccia & Baiocco, 2021). Despite being a relatively new tourism market, agritourism has expanded significantly in most developed countries, while agricultural attractions continue to gain popularity in developing nations (Baipai et al., 2022).Agritourism, which is a subset of rural tourism, is an innovative strategy that transforms farms into tourism destinations or diversifies farming activities to offer entertainment, education, recreation, hospitality, and on-farm product sales (Van Zyl & van Der Merwe, 2021). Agritourism significantly contributes to sustainable rural development by safeguarding indigenous knowledge and traditional practices while also stimulating economic growth and preserving agricultural heritage. Additionally, it fosters fair and equitable relationships within local communities (Baipai et al., 2024;Ciolac et al., 2019). Beyond these benefits, agritourism aligns with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger (SDG 2), climate action (SDG 13), and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), by merging agriculture with tourism (Dionizi & Kercini, 2025;Yusuf & Wulandari, 2023). However, in order to provide these advantages and make a significant contribution to the SDGs, agritourism needs to be planned strategically and in accordance with sustainable development principles.While agritourism holds significant potential, it often faces early-stage development challenges, such as limited support from national tourism policies and inadequate coordination of various stakeholders, facilities, and resources (Pérez-Olmos & Aguilar-Rivera, 2021). Moreover, in many tourism-related areas, short-term profit usually takes precedence over long-term sustainability and strategic planning, which might have negative consequences (Kazlouski et al., 2020). If these issues are not effectively addressed, they may hinder agritourism's ability to contribute to the SDGs. To foster its growth and resilience, well-balanced and practical policies are essential, particularly in tackling the crises that impact rural regions worldwide.Agritourism presents both opportunities and challenges on the path to sustainable tourism.Lately, researchers have been paying closer attention to it, recognising its potential to address global challenges (Kataya, 2021;Popescu et al., 2023). However, major research gaps exist, notably concerning how to create and operate sustainable models of agritourism and how these models may sustain themselves (Paniccia & Baiocco, 2021). This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding of different aspects of agritourism and its contribution to local development by discussing the key elements that affect its sustainability, governance, and resilience. The