本文是一篇农业经济论文，本论⽂以位于加纳阿⽠⽪姆北区的孟邦阿库⽪姆镇（Mampong Akuapim）为例，研究了观光农场对⽋发达热带国家当地居的社会经济影响，揭示了其在农村发展、经济增和环境可持续性⽅⾯的潜⼒。
1 Introduction
1.1 Research Background
Increasing interest in agricultural tourism as a tool for revenue generation has recently been on therise in both developed and developing countries[1].The combination of agriculture with tourism,oragritourism,has come to be seen as a potential global driver of sustainable tourism and ruraldevelopment[2].A growing trend in tourism is agritourism,which takes place on farms or in rural areasand involves guests engaging in or witnessing agricultural activities[3].Several working definitions havebeen developed for agritourism.As defined by Barbieri and Mshenga[4],it is any practice developed ona working farm with the purpose of attracting visitors.Sharpley and Sharpley[5]developed a definitionof‘tourism products which are directly connected with the agrarian environment,agrarian products,oragrarian stays’.By these definitions,it is inherent that agritourism provides an avenue for ruraldevelopment by utilizing agricultural resources to increase revenue and foster cross-cultural interaction.There is a highlighted advantage of agritourism presenting socio-economic benefits by being a drivingforce behind rural growth and development in developing nations.Agritourism boosts regionaleconomies by bringing in money from farm sales,lodging,and other related activities.It encourages jobdevelopment and entrepreneurship,especially in remote communities with limited access to the outsideworld[6].With a compound annual growth rate(CAGR)of 11.5%,the worldwide agritourism market isprojected to reach USD 98.37 billion by 2026,from its estimated 2019 value of USD 68.58 billion[7].
1.2 Problem Statement
This paper examines the socio-economic impact of agritourism farms on local residents in adeveloping country,with a specific focus on Mampong Akuapim in Ghana.The study addresses the gapin understanding how agritourism activities affect the lives,livelihoods,and well-being of residents in aregion where agriculture is a dominant sector,yet faces challenges.Despite the growth of tourism andagritourism globally,there is a scarcity of research on its effects in Mampong Akuapim and Ghana as awhole,necessitating an investigation into how these developments influence local residents’characteristics,lives and livelihoods of those residing in areas where agritourism is thriving.Theproblem highlighted is the need to assess and to analyze how local residents’characteristics,such as residents’occupations,religious beliefs,and membership in farmers’organizations,influence theprovision of services within agritourism operations,the benefits residents’perceive from theseoperations,and their overall satisfaction.Moreover,the research aims to explore the reciprocalrelationship,investigating how these services and benefits affect the income and health of the localresidents.The study also identifies several challenges confronting agritourism development in MampongAkuapim.
2 Literature Review and Basic Theory
2.1 Literature Review
Agritourism,tracing its roots back to the early 1800s in the United States[20],has evolved into atransformative force for economies worldwide.The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation onAgriculture(IICA)has actively promoted agritourism in the Caribbean since 2005,aiming to strengthenthe intersection of tourism and agriculture[21].In Thailand,agritourism has emerged as a key marketingtool since its introduction in 2002,attracting over half a million tourists to farm areas[22].Europe hasembraced agritourism as a way of life,with numerous tourists seeking farm-based experiences,particularly in Greece,where the Ministry of Agriculture sponsors agritourism,drawing visitors tomountainous and underdeveloped areas[23].Agritourism involves a spectrum of activities,encompassingthe exploration of local culture,natural resources,and the fostering of communi
