Agritourism properties from the perspective of farm owners in Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the awareness of Saudi farm owners about rural lodg¬es, their motivation to engage in rural lodge projects, and their awareness regarding governmental loans, management, and marketing for rural lodge projects.

Methodology: We conducted in-depth interviews with 38 farm owners across all regions of Saudi Arabia to anal¬-yse their awareness of, the possibilities, and the difficulties regarding the operationalization of rural hotels projects; results were then analysed to reach recommendations to be shared with theoretic and practical stakeholders Findings: Results strongly revealed that farm owners were enthusiastic about making lodges in their farms, but that they needed more flexibility regarding financial and training support.

They remarked the need for training courses that assist them in starting the projects.

They also deemed as important the merging of the local heritage de¬sign into the interior areas of the lodges, allowing for them to connect the interior spaces with the external spaces.

Originality: this is the first study to investigate the specifications of agritourism and rural lodge design in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of farm owners.

It will provide important information for tourism sector on the challenges farm owners face when starting rural lodge projects.