Sustaining agricultural livelihoods: The influence of agrotourism on enhancing wellbeing and income in the Todgha Oasis, Morocco

Abstract

Agrotourism activities stimulate the development of additional local activities (e.g., tourist service providers, crafts, shops, and museums) and promote the rural area overall. Therefore, this study examines the impact of agrotourism on the wellbeing of farmers in the Todgha Oasis in Morocco. Using primary data from 47 farming households, the study employs factorial analysis of variance to analyze the influence of age, experience in agrotourism, and land ownership area on agrotourism income. Welfare indicators, including income-to-expenditure ratios, poverty thresholds, and the agricultural minimum wage (AMW), are also assessed to evaluate household prosperity. Our results reveal that agrotourism experience and land ownership area significantly predict agrotourism income, with a notable interactive effect highlighting the advantages of experienced farmers with larger landholdings. Agrotourism contributes to reducing poverty and elevating household income above the AMW for the majority of participants, fostering socioeconomic resilience. The contribution of this study is that it is the first study in North Africa that analyzes the impact of agrotourism on the wellbeing of Todgha Oasis farmers. The findings can serve as a reference for policymakers to formulate poverty reduction programs and improve agricultural households’ wellbeing by promoting broader agricultural and agrotourism activity.