New Agritourism Electronic Gateway

The non-profit enterprise Agroxenia recently presented its new electronic gateway for agritourism travel routes.

The main purpose of the portal, set up by Agrorama, is to “introduce” the consumer to agritourism enterprises; to propose routes throughout Greece; and to assist visitors on how to find good quality agritourism lodges.

Dimitris Michailidis, secretary general of the non-profit company Agroxenia, spoke of how some businesses try to “pose” as agritourism enterprises when what they are actually doing is replacing agritourism with rural tourism and in reality are hotel units with luxurious pools, exported food, beverages and wooden furniture. He made reference to the absence of an institutional framework for agritourism.

The portal will include a quick search, a calendar to be used as a “tool” for visitors to see whether and when a celebration or activity is to take place in the countryside; and news for consumers and agritourism entrepreneurs.
Descriptions of businesses that are listed on the portal will also be included.

Enterprises entitled to be included on the portal’s list are those whose activity meets the criteria and are considered of agritourism nature.

Agroxenia underlined that hotels that are not considered traditional agritourism guesthouses will not be included on the site.

The first formal presentation of the Internet site www.agroxenia.travel will take place during the first Panhellenic Conference for Agritourism Enterprises in Athens on 17-18 February where discussions will be held in relation to agritourism quality criteria, architecture, equipment, facilities, gastronomy, culture and environment.

The new portal is a result of the collaboration of Agrorama and the business network for agritourism enterprises that was set up during the meeting for agritourism entrepreneurs carried out on Kefallonia in September 2008 to promote a collective business structure of agritourism businesses.