Agritourism as a Strategic Tool for Sustainability and Rural Development in the Hazara Region, Pakistan

Abstract

A potential way to address the issues of rural development in Pakistan's Hazara region is agritourism, which incorporates tourism into agricultural environments. The Hazara community, which is distinguished by its rich cultural heritage, agricultural diversity, and natural beauty, faces socioeconomic challenges like youth migration, unstable markets, and a lack of farm jobs. Through revenue diversification, environmental stewardship, and cultural tradition preservation, this article examines how agritourism can be a strategic tool to improve rural sustainability and economic resilience. The study emphasizes the potential of programs like farm stays, orchard tours, harvest festivals, and food tourism to promote inclusive development by drawing on global literature and local factors. To ensure the successful implementation of agritourism, it emphasizes the significance of financial incentives, capacity building, supportive policies, and public-private collaboration. Agritourism has the potential to empower local communities, particularly women and youth, and lessen dependency on traditional agriculture by fostering backward and forward linkages in the rural economy. According to the research, agritourism offers the Hazara region a practical and contextually knowledgeable approach to sustainable rural development.