Funding boost for Tasmanian agritourism

That's according to Optimum Standard principal consultant Belinda Hazell, who is helping guide the growth of the sector through the Opening the Gate program.

"One of the interesting things that has come from the COVID-19 disruption is that people are wanting to reconnect with local supply chains," Ms Hazell said.

"They want to know where their produce is grown, they want to re-connect with the farmer.

"This is one of the key things this project is about, how we connect people with product and place."

Opening the Gate is based on Australia's longest-running and successful Agritourism Business Development Program.

It includes a range of supports for new participants to agritourism, as well as helping existing businesses.

Assistant federal Industry Development Minister Tasmanian Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam recently launched the Opening the Gate: Accelerating Agritourism in Tasmania project in Richmond.

"With around 15 per cent of all jobs in Tasmania supported by tourism, it's vital that we continue to support the industry and set it on track to thrive again," Senator Duniam said.

Opening the Gate has two core streams:

The federal government has provided $2.8 million to encourage agricultural businesses to develop unique tourism experiences, such as interactive farm tours, on-farm accommodation and meals and paddock to plate experiences.

Ms Hazell said consumer research had shown people wanted to know more about where and how their food was grown and produced.

"They want to know the people behind that, as well," she said.

"It doesn't matter what size the business.

"Small, or niche, businesses have as much of an opportunity - obviously niche businesses are driving people to Tasmania.

"It's an opportunity for farmers to look at diversification, and keeping people on the land for longer."

Field days would be run around the state, from August 30.

"For some, it might be an opportunity to develop a product they can sell, at the farm, for others its an experience of what they do on farm," she said.

'It's bringing people to the farm, getting them through the gate, and providing an experience for visitors coming to Tasmania to have that real direct connection."

Meanwhile, one of Tasmania's premier farm-stay operators says plans to encourage more agritourism in the state is a worthwhile exercise.

Tim and Jane Parsons, own and run Curringa Farm, Hamilton, a working sheep and cropping enterprise, which also has deluxe farm stay accommodation and farm tours.

The first cottage at Curringa was developed in 1984, by Mr Parson's mother Sue.

"We've extended it since then and we have now nine farm-stay cottages," Ms Parsons said.

"We are running a sheep grazing and a cropping farm, growing seed crops of cabbage, onions, opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry, onions and for pasture crops."

She said there were two components to the agritourism side of the business.

"We have our deluxe-farm stay cottages, people can come and stay and enjoy the farm, and we also offer a farm tour.

"We have a bus and we can take people around the farm to look at the bush area, our sustainable agriculture and crops."

It is complemented by sheepdog and shearing demonstrations, followed by a morning tea or barbeque lunch.

"It's a lot of work involved, but we do marry the two - it meant working around the clock to make it all come together."

Prior to COVID-19, about 80 per cent of visitors were from overseas on pre-organised tours.

"We'd see about 13,000 guest come through, each year," she said.

"It was initially for diversification, it's grown since then."

"It became a larger component than farming."

She said marketing needed to be considered carefully.

The federal funding provided a great opportunity to showcase Tasmania's suite of agritourism products and bundle them together for a concerted marketing push for the industry sector.

"In the past it has struggled with identity and recognition as an amazing Tasmanian experience for tourism customers," she said.