Growing Agritourism: Development and the Proliferation of NGOs in a Rural Community

• In Event: 473 - Section on Political Economy of the World-System Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Tourism and Human Capital

Abstract

Rural communities in southern Appalachia are increasingly looking for ways to diversify their economies. Agritourism––ranging from farm stays, to farmers’ markets, to educational programs––is a growing trend in the area. Proponents see agritourism as a sustainable alternative to other forms of economic development, a method to spur green job growth, and ultimately a way for the region to reinvent itself after a long history of deindustrialization and the mechanization of extractive industries and agriculture. An increasing number of non-governmental organizations in the region are leading the agritourism trend, particularly through public-private partnerships. These groups are promoters of new economic development and redevelopment projects in the region. As agritourism gains popularity, however, some critics argue that tourism, albeit green, is nothing more than a boom and bust cycle comparable to the heyday of coal or timber. Even more, community tensions have arisen over perceptions about the leaders of the agritourism movement and what some community members refer to as outsiders with “money and dreams.” This paper examines the emergence of non-governmental organizations in rural southern Appalachia and the complex process of redevelopment. I draw upon political economy perspectives within environmental sociology to highlight issues of environmental privilege, class prejudice, and the maintenance of ideology.

Author

• Rhiannon A. Leebrick, University of Tennessee