Agritourism as a Catalyst for Improving the Quality of the Life in Rural Regions: A Study from a Developed Country *

摘要

Poverty is not limited to underdeveloped and developing countries; it is a reality for developed countries as well, and the United States of American is no exception. Using a case study approach and a social accounting matrix (SAM) model with household disaggregation, this study shows that tourism can be a catalyst to alleviate poverty and unemployment in rural regions of developed countries. This study shows that “agriculture,” the primary economic activity of these regions, can be developed as agritourism attractions and destinations, helping the sustenance of these regions.