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Exploring entrepreneurial skills and competencies in farm tourism

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  • Chris Phelan
  • Richard Sharpley

Abstract

Diversification to farm tourism is increasingly seen as a viable development strategy to promote a more diverse and sustainable rural economy and to counter declining farm incomes. However, the dynamics of the modern farm tourism business and the entrepreneurial and competitive skills farmers require in making the transition from agriculture to a diversified enterprise remains limited. This article explores the range of skills and competencies that farmers in the North West of England identify as important when adopting a diversification strategy to farm tourism. The findings indicate that, whilst a range of managerial skills are valued by farmers, they lack many of the additional business and entrepreneurial competencies required for success. The article acknowledges the need to generate consensus on the requisite skill-set that farm tourism operators require.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Phelan & Richard Sharpley, 2012. "Exploring entrepreneurial skills and competencies in farm tourism," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 27(2), pages 103-118, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:loceco:v:27:y:2012:i:2:p:103-118
    DOI: 10.1177/0269094211429654
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Raffaele Lagravinese, 2013. "Rural tourism and ancient traditions: Evidence from Italian regions," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 28(6), pages 614-626, September.
    2. Chris PHELAN & Claudia SIMA, 2020. "Farm Tourism And Rural Entrepreneurship: Identifying Managerial And Entrepreneurial Skills And Competencies," Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Institute of Agricultural Economics, vol. 17(2), pages 199-211.
    3. Mohammad Salman Shabbir & Mohd Noor Mohd Shariff & Arfan Shahzad, 2016. "Determinants of Entrepreneurial Skills set in Pakistan: A Pilot Study," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 76-86, April.
    4. Luis Mayor & Line F. Lindner & Christoph F. Knöbl & Ana Ramalho & Remigio Berruto & Francesca Sanna & Daniele Rossi & Camilla Tomao & Billy Goodburn & Concha Avila & Marg Leijdens & Katharina Stollewe, 2022. "Skill Needs for Sustainable Agri-Food and Forestry Sectors (I): Assessment through European and National Focus Groups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, August.
    5. EsuhOssai-Igwe Lucky, PhD, 2020. "Entrepreneurial Skills And Self Employed Intentions Among Nigerian Graduates National Youth Service Corp Members In Agbara," Noble International Journal of Business and Management Research, Noble Academic Publsiher, vol. 4(11), pages 111-116, November.
    6. Micheels, Eric T & Gow, Hamish R, 2013. "Market driven innovation and entrepreneurial behaviour: The strategic value of a market orientation in primary agriculture," International Journal of Agricultural Management, Institute of Agricultural Management, vol. 3(1), pages 1-9, October.
    7. Jing Li & Carla Barbieri, 2020. "Demystifying Members’ Social Capital and Networks within an Agritourism Association: A Social Network Analysis," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Nerisa N. Paladan, 2021. "Developing Farmers and Fisherfolks Entrepreneurial Capacity towards Community Based-Enterprise," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(12), pages 105-115, December.
    9. Talbot Mandy, 2013. "Farm Tourism in Wales. Products and Markets, Resources and Capabilities. The Experience of Six Farm Tourism Operators," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 5(4), pages 275-294, December.
    10. Janette Brunstein & Silvia Bertossi Heidrich & Rubens de Araújo Amaro, 2016. "Competencies for a Fair Play in Organizations: a Phenomenographic Analysis of Managers' Conceptions," Brazilian Business Review, Fucape Business School, vol. 13(2), pages 105-134, March.
    11. Carlos Alberto Cortés-Rodríguez & Gladys Martínez-Gómez & José Luis Romo-Lozano & Ezequiel Arvizu-Barrón, 2023. "Evaluation of the Entrepreneurial Ability of Small-Scale Farmers through the Rasch–Andrich Model," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, March.
    12. Chris PHELAN & Claudia SIMA, 2022. "Farming Tourism: A Review Of Entrepreneurial Skills," Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Institute of Agricultural Economics, vol. 19(1), pages 101-111.
    13. Leanne Townsend & Arjuna Sathiaseelan & Gorry Fairhurst & Claire Wallace, 2013. "Enhanced broadband access as a solution to the social and economic problems of the rural digital divide," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 28(6), pages 580-595, September.
    14. Sarah Fitz-Koch & Mattias Nordqvist & Sara Carter & Erik Hunter, 2018. "Entrepreneurship in the Agricultural Sector: A Literature Review and Future Research Opportunities," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(1), pages 129-166, January.
    15. Dubois, Charline & Cawley, Mary & Schmitz, Serge, 2017. "The tourist on the farm: A ‘muddled’ image," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 298-311.
    16. Christian Kjær Monsson, 2014. "Development without a metropolis: Inspiration for non-metropolitan support practices from Denmark," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 29(4-5), pages 295-308, June.
    17. McGehee, Nancy Gard & Kline, Carol & Knollenberg, Whitney, 2014. "Social movements and tourism-related local action," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 140-155.
    18. Robert Smith & Gillian Conley & Anne MJ Smith & Gerard McElwee, 2016. "Assessing the impact of ‘farming with dyslexia’ on local rural economies," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 31(5), pages 529-538, August.
    19. Doh, Kyungrok & Park, Sangwon & Kim, Dae-Young, 2017. "Antecedents and consequences of managerial behavior in agritourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 511-522.
    20. Amare Abawa Esubalew & Sunday Abayomi Adebisi, 2024. "Entrepreneurs' competency, marketing innovation, and enterprise growth: uncovering the mediating role of marketing innovation," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    21. Chris PHELAN & Claudia SIMA, 2021. "British Agrotourism Before, During And After The Covid19 Pandemic," Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Institute of Agricultural Economics, vol. 18(2), pages 217-230.

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