Sustainable strategies of industrial tourism in the agri-food business: an exploratory approach

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the opportunities and potential of industrial tourism for the agri-food industry in the current post-pandemic scenario. Industrial tourism can favor appropriate behaviors by companies and tourists to address emerging challenges in the post-pandemic era, such as responsible production and consumption and the containment of waste production.

Design/methodology/approach

The adopted research method is a case study with exploratory purposes, applied to an industrial tourism experiment called “Make it in Puglia” (Apulia Region, Italy). The case study was based on participant observation and semi-structured interviews.

Findings

This study analyzes how industrial tourism in active agri-businesses allows local areas to be enhanced while simultaneously improving and strengthening sustainable strategies and choices for organizations and customers, especially in the changing context of the post-pandemic era.

Research limitations/implications

The country specificity of this project and the limited duration of the investigation in the post-pandemic period were the main limitations of this study.

Practical implications

Industrial tourism in the agri-food business can contribute to a sustainable strategy for destination management based on new elements of attractiveness. Moreover, industrial tourism represents an opportunity for agri-food businesses, through the promotion of “business tours,” to respond to requests for more sustainable practices, especially considering that food waste and resource use efficiency have become a topic of growing concern.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first studies that considers industrial tourism as a strategy for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the agribusiness sector, as it analyzes industrial tourism as an instrument in the construction of a cohesive ecosystem where tourism, agri-food business and local communities together pursue preservation and safeguarding of the environment, heritage and territory.

Citation

Badia, F., Galeone, G. and Shini, M. (2024), "Sustainable strategies of industrial tourism in the agri-food business: an exploratory approach", British Food Journal, Vol. 126 No. 1, pp. 327-346. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-11-2022-1031