Pune’s agro-tourism concept is all set to reach London. The Agri -Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), promoted by Pune’s Pandurang Taware, has been invited by the London-based World Travel Market for their annual exhibition in November.
Taware, the director of ATDC who is based in Baramati, said that the premier global event in the travel industry is a vibrant four-day business event which presents a diverse range of destinations. ?This year, we will be participating in the mega event and showcasing the agro-tourism of the state,”he said. The ATDC has been promoting agro tourism in a big way in the state. Staged annually, the World Travel Market participants can efficiently, effectively and productively gain immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry.
The concept which sees farmers taking to agro-tourism has seen lot of visitors flocking to the rural hinterlands. Since Taware started this business four years back, nearly 50,000 guests have flocked to farms in Baramati to spend a holiday and understand rustic lifestyle.
The concept was to have farmers promote the rustic lifestyle as well as help him/her treat it as a business concept in promoting tourism.
Till now nearly 50,000 tourists have attended this kind of tourism churning out business going to crores in the state which has also Taware has sought the state’s intervention to give a special push to the concept. From getting to experience the rustic lifestyle, visiting fields to even visiting units of jaggery making, wineries, silkworm rearing and also enjoying traditional food and folk arts show, the farmers are trained to showcase their village which helps them economically.
Taware said that this was a supplementary source of income for the farmers who have to depend only on one or two crops and also helps the future generations to stay in the village.