Iuliana Merce

The Rural Educational Tourism at the Farm

Abstract The consumer of rural and farm tourism has evolved in the direction of being associated with types of fun and educational leisure activities. Tourism consumers search for new types of tourism, such as: farming entertainment. The aim of an educational trip in the rural areas is: to know the life and activity of the farmers, to create a positive image of the agriculture in the eyes of the next generations/ urban resident consumers. The educational rural tourism has various activities, i.e.: basic classes/ full courses/ short term workshops on the school farms. The educational activities for children include: floral arrangements, cooking classes on the farm, preparing natural herbal remedies, demonstrations of traditional ways of obtaining beer and wine, experience historical reconstruction of the traditional villages, etc. The recreational rural tourism includes: art of the plants, agricultural labyrinths, wine tasting tourism, vegetable picking, identification of spontaneous plant and wildlife species, etc. The authors present the steps have to be followed in order to develop new brand tourism products that meet the requirements for consumers education.

Agritourism: An Educational Tool for the Students with Agro-food Profile☆

Abstract Agritourism is an incredible educational tool with varied expected effects on the educational plan. Pupils, students, teenagers and adults understand better: the rural traditional culture, the production and the distribution processes of the agricultural products, the importance of healthy food in peoples lives, the preservation of the environment, etc. Educational agritourism is an alternative form of mass tourism for areas where the latter cannot be organized. The educational agritouristic activities for the students with agricultural major envisage: a thorough understanding of the public function of agriculture, raising awareness for healthy food, developing healthy dietary habits, learning the way in which the agricultural products are produced and marketed, first-hand experience along the whole agricultural year. Furthermore, students can have a better understanding of the life in the rural areas and this can make them want to keep the agriculture culture, perpetuate the traditions. They are given the opportunity to experiment new situations and establish an emotional and direct contact with nature. As for the teaching higher education staff, the benefits will consist in the introduction of the environmentally friendly agricultural products in the faculty, in teaching the theoretical and practical knowledge needed for the new agricultural technology.