Sustainable strategies of industrial tourism in the agri-food business: an exploratory approach

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the opportunities and potential of industrial tourism for the agri-food industry in the current post-pandemic scenario. Industrial tourism can favor appropriate behaviors by companies and tourists to address emerging challenges in the post-pandemic era, such as responsible production and consumption and the containment of waste production.Design/methodology/approachThe adopted research method is a case study with exploratory purposes, applied to an industrial tourism experiment called “Make it in Puglia” (Apulia Region, Italy). The case study was based on participant observation and semi-structured interviews.FindingsThis study analyzes how industrial tourism in active agri-businesses allows local areas to be enhanced while simultaneously improving and strengthening sustainable strategies and choices for organizations and customers, especially in the changing context of the post-pandemic era.Research limitations/implicationsThe country specificity of this project and the limited duration of the investigation in the post-pandemic period were the main limitations of this study.Practical implicationsIndustrial tourism in the agri-food business can contribute to a sustainable strategy for destination management based on new elements of attractiveness. Moreover, industrial tourism represents an opportunity for agri-food businesses, through the promotion of “business tours,” to respond to requests for more sustainable practices, especially considering that food waste and resource use efficiency have become a topic of growing concern.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first studies that considers industrial tourism as a strategy for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the agribusiness sector, as it analyzes industrial tourism as an instrument in the construction of a cohesive ecosystem where tourism, agri-food business and local communities together pursue preservation and safeguarding of the environment, heritage and territory.

Guest editorial: Circular economy in the agri-food, tourism and hospitality industries in the post-pandemic era

“…The industrial tourism has been defined as “visits to sites that enable residents and tourists to learn about a region’s operational activities through visits to, and tours of, active business and corporate museums founded by companies with a long history strongly rooted and/or typical in the area, as well as producers of cultural foods, and sometimes bearers of status symbols such as typical products”. In this context, Badia et al . (2024) have analyzed the opportunities and potential of industrial tourism for the agri-food companies in the post-pandemic scenario.…”

“…The industrial tourism has been defined as "visits to sites that enable residents and tourists to learn about a region's operational activities through visits to, and tours of, active business and corporate museums founded by companies with a long history strongly rooted and/or typical in the area, as well as producers of cultural foods, and sometimes bearers of status symbols such as typical products". In this context, Badia et al (2024) have analyzed the opportunities and potential of industrial tourism for the agri-food companies in the postpandemic scenario. On the basis of the results of a case study, the research highlights that industrial tourism in agri-business allows for a nexus between companies and local areas and can strengthen sustainable strategies and choices for organizations and customers, such as sustainable business tours as a mean of attractiveness for travelers.…”

Multisensory Experiential Tourism Strategies in Guangxi, China

“…The research revealed insight into the importance of the experiential qualities of heritage tourism-specifically those aligned to the natural environment-and a desire to achieve an emotive and sensual engagement with key signifiers of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage through potential leisure experiences (Manley et al, 2023). For example, a business tour is a distinctive component of an experiential tourism offering that helps consumers better understand the food production process while respecting environmental and social values (Badia et al, 2023).…”