Industry Update: International Benchmarking and Knowledge Sharing a Focus at Scottish Agritourism Conference
The fifth annual Scottish Agritourism conference took place in Perth this week. 300 delegates from farms and crofts, the agritourism supply chain, economic development and government bodies came together at Perth Concert Hall for a one and half day programme of speakers and panel sessions focusing on the benefits of international knowledge sharing and a discussion on the legacy for Scotland of the World Agritourism Conference, which will be hosted by Scotland’s national body for agritourism in Aberdeen, in June 2026.
Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture & Connectivity, addressed the conference on Tuesday morning, and participated in a panel discussion focused on the benefits of peer-to-peer learning for agritourism, considering both Scottish and global levels. Mr Fairlie was joined on stage by International Keynote Speakers, Marijke Dunsleman, Agritourism NZ and Pandurang Taware, Agritourism Managing Director – Agri Tourism India. In Monday’s International speaker session, both gave an excellent account of the agritourism sector in their own countries and shared their observations on agritourism in Scotland following a packed weekend visiting agritourism in Angus, Perthshire and Fife. The international duo spoke passionately about their own journeys to achieving recognition for agritourism from national government and agricultural communities and both provided relatable evidence of the importance of specific government agritourism policies to scale up agritourism.
Speaking to delegates Mr Fairlie committed to look at learnings from other countries where agritourism has become a main driver of the rural economy by considering if Scotland could benefit from a dedicated agritourism policy. He also recognised the benefits of Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme in facilitating knowledge exchange in Scotland.
A number of young people on the Agritourism Futures programme also presented at the conference asking for support for young people starting out in agritourism, as has been available through SRDP and Leader in the past.
Mr Fairlie, said; “One of the things that keeps people coming back to Scotland and that makes us one of the must visit countries in the world, is our agritourism offering, and I am delighted that Scotland will be hosting the global Agritourism Conference in Aberdeen in 2026. Those taking part have seized the opportunities to diversify farming and rural businesses to embrace hospitality or food and drink and are incredible examples of what is possible. The Scottish Government will continue to support those celebrating the best of what we have to offer.”
Scottish Agritourism Sector Lead, Caroline Millar, said; “There are significant benefits for Scotland by being connected into a global network of agritourism leaders and hearing directly from the way that India and New Zealand have scaled up agritourism. Scotland will be profiled as a leader in agritourism in 2026, by hosting the inaugural Global Agritourism Conference but we need to build on this, scale up and make agritourism mainstream. We welcome Mr Fairlie’s commitment to consider if a dedicated agritourism policy can assist helping agritourism in Scotland reach its full potential.”
Over the course of Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th November, delegates heard from a range of agritourism businesses on topics including building teams and innovation. Monday’s sessions included three panel debates focused on the future of the Rural Economy. The three sessions represented the Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise areas with participation from key representatives of local authorities, DMOs, sector bodies and agritourism businesses. Rachael Hamilton MSP, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, addressed all delegates prior to the panel sessions, providing her views on the future of the rural economy. A video presentation from Scottish Government, covering the Rural Delivery Plan was also played for delegates ahead of panel discussions.
