FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

 

What can I do with my small farm?
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences - Agritourism Office and the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association (NCANA) offer a great resource entitled So You Want to Start an Agritourism Farm? This document highlights a wealth of information including questions for farmers interested in developing an agritourism farm to ask themselves; a variety of suggestions for starting an agritourism business; a North Carolina related agritourism business resource list; and information about the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association (NCANA). Click HERE to view the So You Want to Start an Agritourism Farm? document.

The College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State offers a helpful resource that gives insight into the first steps to turning ones farm into a tourism destination. Options for ones farm as well as costs and returns are graphed out to assist one in making wise business decisions. Other key points in this publication include marketing strategies, types of crops that produce revenue, and financial considerations that should be made. Click HERE to view the resource.

Is a farm/ranch recreation business right for me?
University of Wyoming's Cooperative Extension Service published a resource that explains the farm/ranch business, gives examples of what the business entails and list ideas one can start with to create their own business. Click HERE to view a copy of the publication.

I am contemplating starting a bed & breakfast/farm vacation business, do you have any suggestions?
Michigan State University Extension published a resource entitled, Starting a Bed & Breakfast/Farm Vacation Business, which gives detail into what a B&B is, describes the day in and day out duties of the business, and discusses marketing techniques. Click HERE to view a copy of the publication.

What is Eco-Tourism?
According to the Centre for Ecotourism, "The term ecotourism was coined by Héctor Ceballos-Lascuràin in 1983, and was initially used to describe nature-based travel to relatively undisturbed areas with an emphasis on education. The concept has, however, developed to a scientifically based approach to the planning, management and development of sustainable tourism products and activities. It is an enlightening, participatory travel experience to environments, both natural and cultural, that ensures the sustainable use, at an appropriate level, of environmental resources and, whilst producing viable economic opportunities for the tourism industry and host communities, makes the use of these resources through conservation beneficial to all tourism role players." Click HERE for additional definitions and information about Eco-Tourism.

What are some Nature-Based Tourism and Agritourism trends?
The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture provides a great resource highlighting nature-based and agritourism trends.
Click HERE to read the 'Nature-Based Tourism and Agritourism Trends: Unlimited Opportunities' by James A. Maetzfold.

Do you have any guidelines for how to develop a successful nature-based tourism enterprises?
The Strom Thurmond Institute of Government & Public Affairs at Clemson University offers a publication entitled, Nature-Based Tourism Enterprises: Guidelines for Success, that is a good resource for anyone thinking about developing a nature-based tourism business. Topics include planning and developing for the visitors, assessing resources, business planning, and identifying expenses. Click HERE to view a the publication.

How do I conduct a feasibility study?
The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives offers a document that defines and explains why and how to conduct a feasibility for a new business start-up. A step-by-step guide is presented which allows landowners to conduct their own feasibility study to judge whether developing a new business venture is in fact feasible. Click HERE to view the document.


How do I create a business plan?
A business plan is an important part of any business. The AgriBusiness Council of Oregon offers an AgriTourism Workbook that takes landowners through each step in creating a business plan to help them successfully define their business. All areas of the business plan are explained in detail, providing a list of questions in each section for landowners to answer regarding their business. To view a PDF of the workbook click HERE - or visit The AgriBusiness Council of Oregon's website to order a hardcopy of the workbook.


Where can I find tourism-related and tourism extension-related publications?
This website provides a detailed listing and description of various tourism-related and tourism extension-related publications - these resources on located on the Resources Page under Tourism-Related Journals and Popular Media Resources.
An additional resource is the National Tourism Publication Database offered through Michigan State University Extension . Additionally, National Extension Tourism (NET): Information Clearininghouse provides a wealth of information and resources related to tourism and extension.

Where can I find current North Carolina Tourism-Related statistics/figures?
Several resources exist for which highlight various statistics and figures for Tourism and North Carolina. The NC Division of Commerce and NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development offer a wealth of information and data.
Particularly useful is the Tourism Research section of the NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sport Development's website. The Tourism Research page provides NC Fast Facts; Economic Impact of Tourism in NC; NC Visitation Research; etc. Additionally, the North Carolina Travel Tracker provides monthly and quarterly summaries of NC travel and tourism indicators (e.g., airport deplanements/enplanements, hotel/motel occupancy, welcome center visits, etc.).

Additionally, the NC Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development houses the Tourism Development Officers. Tourism Development officers, located across the state of North Carolina, share the mission of supporting sustainable efforts to protect, preserve and promote the state’s natural, historic and cultural resources. Development Officers serve as liaisons with local communities to develop tourism across the state.  For more information on Tourism Development Themes, Tourism Development Regions, Heritage Tourism Development Officers, Programs, and/or Resources, visit the Tourism and Community Development section of the NC Department of Commerce’s website.

How can I better advertise, market, and/or publicize my attraction, business, County, etc. via NC Division of Tourism?
Each of the 100 counties in North Carolina has a local contact, known as an Extranet, who is responsible for sharing and entering information regarding their county (such as accommodations, attractions, dining, shopping, golf courses, etc.) to the NC Division of Tourism. The Extranet system works well as it gives the state of NC a central contact person who is familiar with their identified location. It also gives people who contact the state requesting to be listed a local person to contact. And, more importantly, by referring questions/requests to a local contact, this connection better guarantees that the local Extranet source knows what is going on in their own backyard/County. The NC Division of Tourism keeps a current County-by-County Extranet Contact List - click HERE to view the most current County-by-County Extranet Contact List(Note - after clicking the link be sure to click on Publications/Extranet Contacts).

To share information relating to What’s New, press releases, and/or story ideas, kindly send this information to the Public Relations folks at the NC Division via wit@visitnc.com. The information you share with them can be used when speaking with media about upcoming events and what’s new across the state.

For a Guide to Improving Your Ranking in Search Results on VisitNC.com, click HERE.