Day 2 – Sessions and Speakers
Wednesday 24th June 2026
7:30 AM - Registration opens
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM - Members of the Global Agritourism Network Committees will meet. Committee members should confirm the time and meeting room with their Global Agritourism Network Committee Chair
8:15 AM - 5:00 PM - Delegates can network and browse exhibition stands
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM - Session 1 - Welcome to the conference
Delegates will be welcomed to the inaugural Global Agritourism Conference.
Scottish Agritourism Chair
Riddell began working in tourism in 1978, first assistant tourist officer with Scottish Borders Council, then as Chief Executive of Scottish Borders Tourist Board, joining VisitScotland in 2005 as Director of Partnerships, Strategy and Communications and latterly as Director of Industry and Destination Development. Riddell led and managed a team of over 300 staff that delivered services and advice to visitors, tourism businesses and a wide range of external stakeholders. Riddell’s team operated the network of i centres and delivered VisitScotland’s star rating quality assurance schemes. He was responsible for developing the organisation’s Gaelic Language Plan, Responsible Tourism Strategy and led VisitScotland’s input to the Scottish Agritourism strategy, supporting the formation of the Scottish Agritourism Board in May 2022. Since his retirement in September 2020 he has taken on a series of roles including chairing a group of voluntary Trustees responsible for a Grade A listed building in Eyemouth and a community liaison group linked to a major pump storage hydroelectric scheme north of Fort William.
9:30 AM - 10:55 AM Session 2 – Keynote - A Global Agritourism Network – Country Benchmarking - Facts and Figures Around the Globe
This session showcases countries where agritourism is delivering measurable rural income growth, job creation and community resilience, supported by policy frameworks that work. Five speakers will share the agritourism landscape in their home countries and the infrastructure and policy that supports this.
Sector Lead
Caroline lives in the county of Angus on the family farm located just north of Dundee. The farm produces Scotch beef, Scotch lamb and malting barley. The farm has 120 suckler Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cows and 500 breeding ewes and grows around 300 acres of cereals. Caroline and her husband Ross have also operated a luxury tourism business on the farm called The Hideaway Experience for the past 20 years. Caroline is the Sector Lead for Scotland’s Agritourism Sector and has co-chaired the National Strategy Board for Agritourism for the past 4 years alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and the Islands. Caroline has worked with others since 2007 to raise the profile of Agritourism as an economic opportunity for Scotland, which resulted in the formation of Scottish Agritourism as a sector body in 2020 and the National Strategy for the sector. As well as the farming and tourism business Caroline has run her own consultancy business since 2007 and currently has the contract to facilitate Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme. Caroline is a former NFU Scotland Board member and undertook the 2025 Diversity and Inclusion research and report for NFU Scotland. Caroline is a Scottish Enterprise Rural Leader, Nuffield Scholar, past Director and Chair of the Oxford Farming Conference and past Director of SRUC. Caroline and Ross have two children, Finlay who is 20 and currently working on farms in New Zealand and Sophie who is 18, studying at Harper Adams University.
Owner Manager
Tim Parsons remembers when his parents built a farm stay cottage on their working farm in 1984 and began farm tours in 1990. Today, Curringa Farm, in central Tasmania, is known as one of the island’s earliest and longest running single family agritourism businesses. The farm’s core business is from Hong Kong and Singapore. Tim and his wife Jane, have built a further seven cottages and renovated a farmhouse to accommodate over 3500 visitors a year from around the world. A further 10,000 tourists visit the farm each year to take a half day farm tour with BBQ Lunch They are the paddock end of the “Paddock to Plate” analogy, breeding 1400 prime lambs, growing opium poppies and exporting small seeds around the world. Tim is regarded by his peers as one of Tasmania’s passionate and committed tourism operators who commands real on ground action and support for small family tourism businesses. His passion is agritourism and he was the only Australian to attend the Global Workshop on Agritourism in Vermont USA, 2022. It was there he reconnected with Caroline Millar after her visit to Curringa Farm over 10 years prior. The Scottish delegation to Vermont showed Tim what is possible at a coordinated country level and aligned with his values about the definition of Agritourism and its future.
Managing Director
Fourth generation farmer and first-generation entrepreneur, Pandurang Taware, grew up in a small village, Sanghavi, in Baramati Taluka, India. He is known as the Father of Indian agritourism and has driven significant growth for India’s rural economy over the past 20 years. His childhood was immersed fully in farming and village life. His father’s desire was that Pandurang should study in agriculture and work for the betterment of farming communities in India however he initially studied Computer Science and worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years. In 2003 he married agriculture with tourism and launched the Agri Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) in India with a model Agri tourism Centre in Baramati. After running Agritourism operations successfully for three years, he took on training and skill development in Agritourism for other farmers in Maharashtra and as of March 2020 he had replicated this idea of Agri Tourism on 628 farms in more than 300 villages and 29 districts in the state of Maharashtra. The Agri Tourism Sector Survey undertaken by ATDC in 2017, 2019 and 2020 shows that 0.47 million, 0.53 million, 0.79 million tourists have visited these centres respectively, generating a total of 55.79 million Indian rupees for farming families and over 7,000 jobs for women and youths in rural communities. Padurang has been a recipient of various Awards and Recognition at home in India and abroad and he is a regular speaker at various International and National conferences. He is the Regional Representative for South West Asia on the Global Agri Tourism Network (GAN) and Chair of the World Agri Tourism Day Committee.
Owner
Professor Wu, Tsung-Chiung (Emily) is a Professor in the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Leisure Studies at National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan. For over three decades, I have been deeply engaged in the development of agritourism in Taiwan. She have served as a senior advisor to governmental agricultural authorities, professional associations, and farm organizations, witnessing and actively contributing to the evolution of Taiwan’s agritourism sector. I am the principal driving force behind Taiwan’s “Special Agro-tourism Spots Certification System,” a national mechanism designed to ensure quality, authenticity, and sustainability in agritourism operations.
11:25 AM - 11:55 AM Session 3 - Keynote to be announced
11:55 AM - 12:55 PM Session 4 – Keynote - Opportunities for Farm Retailing and Farm Cafes
Showcasing food and drink produced on the farm is a core part of the agritourism experience, presenting attractive and significant consumer offerings that provide a better understanding of farming and food production. This session, features four world-class operators sharing their expertise in farm retail and hospitality businesses from Scotland, England and Australia.
Director
Rob Copley is the co-founder of Farmer Copleys, one of Yorkshire’s most celebrated farm retail destinations. Alongside his wife, Heather, he launched the farm shop and cafe on the family’s Ravensknowle Farm near Pontefract in 2003. What started as a small butchery has grown into a thriving business employing around 100 people, with a farm shop, the popular Moo Cafe, and seasonal experiences such as pumpkin and sunflower festivals that attract visitors from across the UK. https://farmercopleys.co.uk/
Farmer Copleys
Darts Farm was established in 1971 by Ronald Dart in Devon, England. Today, his son Michael runs the business alongside his two brothers, James and Paul. Darts Farm is one of England’s largest agritourism enterprises with retail of produce from the farm, various farm cafes and restaurants, a wellness spa and a vineyard. Michael is a Nuffield Scholar, and in 2025, Darts Farm was recognised as the best large farm shop in the UK in the Farm Retail Awards and was also awarded the AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence. https://www.dartsfarm.co.uk/
Balgove Larder
Will Docker is a director of Balgove Larder, located on the edge of the historic town of St Andrews, Scotland. Balgove Larder is one of Scotland's highest-rated farm shops with its own butchery counter selling meat from the farm and also houses a legendary Steak Barn, café and home store. Balgove hosts regular night markets throughout the year. All aspects of Balgove were founded by Will and co-founder Henry Cheape. Will was formerly a chef with experience in London through to the Arctic. www.balgove.com
John Stanley Associates
John and his wife, Linda, own the award-winning Chestnut Brae in Western Australia, a 1,000-tree sweet chestnut farm in the agritourism sector. John has become an expert on farm retail merchandising, display and layout and has mentored many business owners across the globe. John had been a consultant to farmers in agritourism and farm retail for 50 years and has clients in 35 countries on every continent where agritourism exists. https://johnstanley.com.au/
2:10 PM - 3:30 PM Breakout Sessions - choose one to attend
Session 5.1 Policy
Senior Economic Development Officer, Tourism
Eiblis Doherty is a seasoned economic development and tourism professional who currently serves as the Senior Economic Development Officer of Tourism for Strathcona County. With nearly a decade of experience in municipal economic growth and community engagement, she leads initiatives that have bolstered visitor attraction strategies, award-winning content creation, and destination development. She holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies degree from MacEwan University and has pursued further education in related disciplines at Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary. Passionate about travel, food, craft breweries and adventure, she brings creativity and strategic insight to destination growth and economic vibrancy.
Assistant Professor
Researcher/Academic: Marisa Eslao-Pamo is an early-career Assistant Professor and researcher at the University of the Philippines–Asian Institute of Tourism (UP AIT). Her work centers on tourism planning, marketing, gender, and sustainable development, with a strong focus on advancing agritourism in the Philippines. She helped develop the agritourism component of Quezon Province’s Tourism Development Plan and collaborates with local governments, farms, and academic institutions. She designed and teaches UP AIT’s first agritourism elective, mentoring future tourism professionals. Raised in a rural community, she advocates agritourism as a pathway to rural development, food security, cultural preservation, and inclusive local economic growth nationwide.
Marge Kilkelly MS CED, is a farmer/politician/rural policy advocate who has worked in community service/public policy for more than 45 years; including 16 years in the Maine Legislature, 10 years with the Eastern US Council of State Governments, and 6 years as Senior Policy Advisor to Sen. Angus King (ME-I) in DC. She currently Chairs the Maine Board of Agriculture.
Professor
Economic Development/Destination Management: Dr. Valeria Klitsounova has been elected as a Vice-president of GAN in 2023. She has been wearing many hats during her career in agri- and ecotourism. She worked for 25 years as an associate professor at Belarusian State University on international tourism department (her majors are marketing, sustainable tourism, heritage interpretation), she was a owner and CEO of travel agency, she was a founder and chair of Belarusian association of Agro- and ecotourism for 22years and considered as mother of rural tourism in Belarus. Valeria has published 5 books including textbook about Agro-and ecotourism and numerous articles.
Owner
Bryanna Kumpula-Yung is the founder of Bar OA Farms, a cut flower and agritourism experience based in Alberta. Through on-farm gatherings, flower experiences, and storytelling, Bryanna connects visitors with the land, local food, and the people who grow it. With a background in economic development and business support, she is passionate about helping rural communities and local producers thrive. Bar OA Farms offers intimate, authentic farm experiences that celebrate seasonal flowers, meaningful connections, and the beauty of agriculture.
Session 5.2 Succession
Hospitality Manager
Sarah Fioroni, a native of San Gimignano, Tuscany, is the general manager and executive chef of her family’s organic farm and agriturismo, Fattoria Poggio Alloro. An AIS-certified sommelier, she is passionate about sharing Tuscan agricultural traditions, sustainable farming, and authentic farm-to-table cuisine. Sarah has served twice as president of the Associazione Strada del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano and is a certified educator in Italy’s Fattorie Didattiche program. She teaches cooking classes and lectures internationally on agritourism and Italian food culture. She is also the author of the award-winning book A Family Farm in Tuscany. Through her work and the television project “Farm to Table, Tuscany,” Sarah highlights the cultural and educational value of agritourism.
Owner/farmer/ Chef
Ruthie Pepler is the owner of Dogwood Hills Guest Farm and an international agritourism development expert. Her passion for farm and table has served to bring families to the farm from all over the world as she continues to nurture the growth of Agritourism in Arkansas and beyond.
Professor
Nico Stengel is Professor of Tour Operator Management and Travel Distribution at Kempten University of Applied Sciences, Germany. He studied Transport Economics (diploma), specialising in tourism economics, at the Technical University of Dresden and the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB). He worked as a research assistant at the Harz University of Applied Sciences and completed his doctorate at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg. He gained professional experience with tour operators and online travel agencies. His research focusses on digital tourism, travel distribution, rural tourism and camping tourism.
Partner
Balfour Stewart is a first-generation farmer at Bankrugg, near Haddington in East Lothian. Up until 2016 the farm was a small arable unit with other land rented.Now it is 200 acres of Winter Wheat, Grass and 120 Easy care sheep, part of Regenerative farming. The Agritourism business opened in 2016. The Bus Stop comprises of accommodation on farm for up to 36 people in 9 static buses. Three of these are luxury fitted out to a high standard and six are eco with natural bus interiors. The eco site only has power in the shared kitchen bus, called Bob, and the shower/toilet block. Balfour has three children and along with his partner Elaine, 9 grandchildren. Balfour says it is essential therefore that they have quality time away from the farm, so they love travelling, attempting to play sport and living for today- this is no rehearsal.
Session 5.3 Collaboration
Statewide Agritourism Coordinator
Rachael Callahan is the Statewide Agritourism Coordinator for the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. In this role, she assists farmers in diversifying their revenue by participating in agritourism activities, conducts research on the impacts of agritourism, and fosters a statewide network of agritourism stakeholders. Ms. Callahan holds a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs from the University of Georgia and Master's degree in Global Environmental Policy from American University.
Lead Innovator
Allison Clark is a regional development specialist with RM Consulting Group, focused on strengthening rural economies through agritourism. She is the Founder of Agritourism Tasmania and Co-Chair of the Global Agritourism Network Australia/New Zealand Committee. Allison is also a member of the Australian Women in Agriculture Agritourism Working Group. She leads delivery of Tasmania’s Agritourism Accelerator and has worked with more than 200 farmers to develop, elevate and diversify agritourism experiences. Allison also advocates for regulatory reform that reduces red tape and enables farm diversification. Her work focuses on creating sustainable regional opportunities that connect agriculture, tourism and community while helping farm businesses grow, adapt and thrive.
Founder / Ce
Marijke Dunselman, founder of Agritourism New Zealand, is a seasoned professional in (agri)tourism business and marketing consulting. Having worked with farmers for over 26 years, her profound understanding of the agritourism sector is truly impressive. In 2019, Marijke took her passion for the field a step further by establishing Agritourism NZ. The organisation seeks to uplift farming communities by promoting agritourism opportunities, fostering income diversification, and enhancing resilience. Marijke achieves this through training programmes, networking, advocacy & research, and marketing. At the start of this year, she set up the Agritourism Academy & Community, an online . Her eclectic professional background includes international corporates like Heineken, Randstad, KLM (Dutch airline), and roles in market research, education, and regional tourism. She also serves as the chair of the Education Committee of the Global Agritourism Network. Marijke brings a rich, multicultural perspective to her work. Having lived in the Netherlands, France, and the USA, she speaks four languages fluently. She emigrated to New Zealand 30 years ago. To take a closer look at Marijke’s work, visit www.agritourism.nz .
Sheep Farmer And Farm Stay Host/founder Farm Stay USA
Scottie Jones began her sheep farming career with her husband at Leaping Lamb Farm in 2003. In 2008, she added a farm stay to the property after realizing that selling locker lamb alone would not cover rising equipment costs. This decision ultimately led her to launch Farm Stay USA in 2010, creating a central hub for farm lodging across the United States and connecting farmers with travelers seeking authentic rural experiences. Today, she serves as GAN co-chair for the North America region and works as a consultant on several USDA-funded projects.
Session 5.4 Consumer Trends
CEO
Nicole is a chef-turned-operator who has spent her career at the intersection of food, farming, and guest experience. As CEO of 4 Elements Hospitality, she specializes in transforming agritourism operations into revenue-generating destinations through innovative F&B strategy, immersive storytelling, and data-driven consumer insights. With hands-on experience across U.S. farm-based operations, Nicole understands what today's visitors are truly seeking, authenticity, transparency, and connection. She brings a practical, operator-first lens to the conversation about where agritourism is headed next.
Project Coordinator
Marjolaine Mondon, agronomist, holds an Agricultural Engineering Degree from INA-PG (AgroParisTech), France. As project coordinator for the recognition and development of reserved designations for over 14 years with the Conseil des appellations réservées et des termes valorisants (CARTV), Marjolaine supports groups and members of expert committees in all activities related to the recognition and implementation of reserved designations and added-value claims in the province of Québec. Her expertise allowed her to accompany and support the majority of projects now recognized as reserved designations in the province of Québec. She continues her work with several projects currently under review.
Professor
Susan L. Slocum is an Professor in the Department of Tourism and Event Management at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Sue has worked on regional planning and development for 15 years and worked with rural communities in Tanzania, the United Kingdom, Belarus, and the United States. Her primary focus is on rural sustainable development, policy implementation, and food tourism, specifically working with small businesses and communities in less advantaged areas. Sue received her doctoral education from Clemson University and was a Fulbright Scholar in 2020. And a Fulbright Specialist in 2025 She has published 10 books and numerous academic articles.
2:10 PM - 3:30 PM Breakout Sessions - choose one to attend
Session 6.1 Farm Stay Accommodation
Owner
Carly is a farmer and the owner of award winning luxury accommodation, Stowaway Kangaroo Island, located on a remote Island off the south coast of Australia. An opportunity to do a Nuffield Scholarship in 2013 opened Carlys eyes to the potential of agritourism and it has become a key part of the success of their family farming operation. When Carly is not wearing her tourism hat she is farming with her husband and two children where they produce beef, lamb, merino wool and pasture raised eggs.
Owner
Jenn Colby has 30+ years of experience working professionally in sustainable agriculture and 26 years as a livestock farmer. She and her family welcome overnight guests for farmstays at yurt and tent sites on their working farm. She hosts the Choosing to Farm podcast connecting first-generation livestock folks across the world, and is a trauma-informed emotional healing facilitator to helping farmers and service providers ease their burdens. She teaches classes in leadership development skills, how to create Five-Star Farmstays, and how to use process-based art to ease anxiety and stress.
Owner
Kay Wilson along with her husband Dougie and parents Anne and Bobby Lennox run their 5000ac Hill Farm on Loch Lomondside. Their family have been tenants at Shantron and Shemore Farm since the 1750’s, production Scotch Lamb and Beef. Welcoming visitors to the farm has always been a huge part of their farming life and in 2022 they celebrated 50 years of Agritourism. They have 2 self-catering cottages and in 2020 launched their hand crafted Bonnie Barns that Dougie has designed and built on the farm. These are luxury adults only accommodation with hot tubs overlook the Loch. They also offer Farm tours and workshops throughout the year and the family is passionate about education and experiences to help connect where food comes from. Kay is a former member of the Scottish Agritourism Board and a Former Scottish Agritourism Destination Leader for Argyll & the Isles.
Session 6.2 Country Insights
Lecturer And Researcher
Since 2012, he has been a Lecturer and researcher at the Agricultural University of Tirana, Department of Rural Tourism Management, teaching courses at Bachelor and Master levels. He holds a PhD and has completed post-doctoral research on agritourism development. His research focuses on rural development, tourism, and agritourism, with publications in international journals. Actively engaged in national and international projects, he has advanced agritourism by founding the Albanian Agritourism Association, contributing to legal reforms, drafting the National Agritourism Strategy, leading enterprise capacity-building, and designing financial grant schemes to support sector growth.
Tourism And Farm Manager
Annemarie Gerards is a Project Manager for Destination Development at NBTC. In this role, she is responsible for stimulating agro-tourism initiatives. NBTC brings together stakeholders from the tourism and agricultural sectors to share knowledge, strengthen initiatives, and develop agro-tourism in a sustainable way. The focus is on experience, education, and appreciation of the Dutch countryside, as well as creating new perspectives for agricultural entrepreneurs.
Head of Institute
PD Dr. Thomas Streifeneder has been working as the head of the Institute for Regional Development of Eurac Research in Bolzano/Bozen (Italy) since 2009. After studying economic geography at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich (LMU), he got his PhD and habilitation at the Department of Geography of the LMU. In his research, he deals with agricultural and socio-economic transformation processes in rural areas, focusing especially on mountain and Alpine regions. In 2018 and 2024, he and his team organized the First and Second World Agritourism Congress in Bolzano and he has since then been actively involved in research concerning this topic. Also, he is particularly interested in literary geography and spatial literary studies. His research focuses on how rural lifestyles and economies are portrayed in prose, how exactly literature perceives them and what statements emerge from them.
Manager
Anouk van Eekelen works at NBTC, the national destination management organisation of and for the Netherlands, where she focuses on destination development and sustainable tourism. With her team, she works to drive innovation and stimulate sustainable development across Destination Netherlands. NBTC provides a national vision for tourism based on knowledge and insights, connecting cities, regions, businesses and governments to ensure tourism contributes to prosperity and well-being for all Dutch residents. As part of this work, she is involved in developing agro-tourism initiatives that connect agriculture and tourism, strengthening rural economies and creating meaningful experiences around the Dutch landscape and food culture. Previously, Anouk was a politician and had her own business in training and consultancy on business etiquette. She studied International Relations at Leiden University.
Session 6.3 Research Focus
Lecturer And Researcher
Since 2012, he has been a Lecturer and researcher at the Agricultural University of Tirana, Department of Rural Tourism Management, teaching courses at Bachelor and Master levels. He holds a PhD and has completed post-doctoral research on agritourism development. His research focuses on rural development, tourism, and agritourism, with publications in international journals. Actively engaged in national and international projects, he has advanced agritourism by founding the Albanian Agritourism Association, contributing to legal reforms, drafting the National Agritourism Strategy, leading enterprise capacity-building, and designing financial grant schemes to support sector growth.
Director
Ulla-Alexandra Mattl is Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism Consultant and Director at EURAKOM, a French consultancy working across sectors but with a strong specialisation on regenerative tourism development and renewable energies. Ulla is an EU Affairs professional with more than 20 years experience in European and international cooperation and works as an external expert for the European Commission. She currently focuses on advancing regenerative tourism principles and innovation in tourism experience development, sustainable hospitality and (rural) food tourism and together with her team supports destinations and businesses on their sustainable and regenerative tourism journey.
Fachmitarbeiterin
My name is Nadine Schrepfer, working for AGRIDEA. We collect knowledge from agricultural research and farming practice, prepare it for teaching purposes and share it with relevant groups. This is AGRIDEA's main role within Swit-zerland's agricultural innovation and knowledge system. My focus is on home economics and diversification, including agritourism. When families start agritourism businesses, the main reasons are usually to enjoy working with guests, share agricultural knowledge, and use existing skills / experience. But how can Swiss farms diversify through agritourism? Is it economically viable? Can the changed workload be managed? These are the questions that interest me.
Professor
Anouk van Eekelen works at NBTC, the national destination management organisation of and for the Netherlands, where she focuses on destination development and sustainable tourism. With her team, she works to drive innovation and stimulate sustainable development across Destination Netherlands. NBTC provides a national vision for tourism based on knowledge and insights, connecting cities, regions, businesses and governments to ensure tourism contributes to prosperity and well-being for all Dutch residents. As part of this work, she is involved in developing agro-tourism initiatives that connect agriculture and tourism, strengthening rural economies and creating meaningful experiences around the Dutch landscape and food culture. Previously, Anouk was a politician and had her own business in training and consultancy on business etiquette. She studied International Relations at Leiden University.
Session 6.4 Sustainability and Sustainable Food
Chairman
Tzu-Wei Fang (Grandpapa), 2024 World Agritourism Award winner, is a regional revitalization practitioner who integrates agriculture, education, and culture. Based in Yilan’s century-old traditional market, he founded the “Market School”, promoting farm-to-family learning journeys that connect young people, farmers, and the wider world. In 2026, he collaborated with Chiu Chao-ming of Green Impact Organic Farm to jointly present the concept:
Researcher
Dr. Girish Mude is a passionate agritourism researcher dedicated to exploring sustainable rural development and experiential travel models. With a Ph.D. focused on agritourism development in Maharashtra, his work bridges agriculture, tourism, and community empowerment. He actively studies how farm-based tourism can enhance farmers’ livelihoods, preserve local culture, and promote responsible travel. His research has been presented at leading academic institutions, and he has received international recognition through research scholarships and fellowships in the USA and Europe. Blending academic insight with practical field engagement, he advocates for policy-driven, community-centered agritourism models that create economic, social, and environmental value.
Phd Student
Caroline Paras is a Research Analyst at the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine, where she also teaches Local Food and Agritourism. For over 20 years, she served as a regional economic developer, where she specialized in downtown revitalization, business retention and expansion, Brownfields redevelopment, tourism, affordable housing, and the sustainability of working waterfronts and local food systems. An Interdisciplinary PhD student at the University of Maine, Caroline is exploring the role of agritourism in transforming visitors into lifelong consumers of Maine farm and fish products while cultivating a premium for local food.
Funder
Noilyn Ramírez Arias is an entrepreneur and rural community tourism developer in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica, Central America. In 2013, she co-founded Turismo Cultural Costa Rica to diversify the ecotourism offering of Bahía Ballena, integrating biodiversity, heritage and community exchange with the support of local partners and more than twenty host families. The initiative is focused on safeguarding the region’s history and culture through circular economy principles and the active engagement of community stakeholders. She is also a founding member of Fundación Somos de Costa Rica, contributing to sustainable local development and community empowerment initiatives.
6:15 PM the Global Agritourism Conference Gala Dinner