Exploring the Economic Feasibility of Implementation of Sustainable Agrotourism Project in Bergerden Agropark to Attract Greenhouse Entrepreneurs for Investment
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Exploring the Economic Feasibility of Implementation of Sustainable Agrotourism Project in Bergerden Agropark to Attract Greenhouse Entrepreneurs for Investment Research Project Submitted to Larenstein University of Applied Science in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters in Agricultural Production Chain Management, specialization Horticulture Chain Management By: Ehsan Kamalipour September 2012 Wageningen The Netherlands © Copyright Ehsan Kamalipour 2012. All rights reserved Acknowledgment First, I thank the omnipotent power over nature's forces for his grace and mercies in my life and the opportunity to pursue a Master degree in the Netherlands. I wish to express my sincere thanks to my dissertation committee and my Supervisor, Mr. Jan Hoekstra who has patiently guided me through my degree programme and the dissertation process. I place on record, my sense of gratitude to Dr. Robert Baars, as the Coordinate of Master Programme, Mr. Marco Verschuur, as the Coordinator of Professional Master Programme Agricultural Production Chain Management as well as Dr. Tracey Campbell, as the Coordinator of Agricultural Production Chain Management specialisation Horticulture Chains for their constant encouragement. I would like express my deep gratitude to Dr. Rik Eweg who introduced Bergerden Agropark project to me and also linked me to the key persons. I also thank all interviewees, especially Mr. Thijs Zee, the project manager and Mr. Stef Huisman, an innovative greenhouse entrepreneur, in Bergerden Agropark for their patience and support. I am grateful to my beloved friends and classmates especially Dr. Aziz Hedayati, Mr. Kuan Hong U and Mr. Stijn van Gils for their support and encouragement during thesis period. Finally, I place on record, my sense of gratitude to one and all who directly or indirectly, have lent their helping hand in this venture. Ehsan Kamalipour Wageningen The Netherlands i Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my treasured parents and my only brother who have supported me all the way since the beginning of my studies. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgment ................................................................................................................... i Dedication ............................................................................................................................. ii List of figures ........................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... v List of Boxes ......................................................................................................................... v List of Annexes .................................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................ vi Summery ............................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1Background and history .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem owner ................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Problem Statement ........................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Research Justification ................................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Hypothesis ......................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Research Objective ........................................................................................... 3 1.5 Research Questions .......................................................................................... 3 1.5.1 Main Question ................................................................................................... 3 1.5.2 Sub questions ................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Reading Guide ......................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 5 2.1 Dutch greenhouse industry and Bergerden Agroparks ..................................... 5 2.1.1 Dutch Greenhouse Industry ............................................................................ 5 2.1.2 Bergerden Agropark Project ........................................................................... 5 2.2 Tourism ..................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Agrotourism ..................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Important factors in implementing an agrotourism project ............................. 15 2.3.1 Starting a greenhouse business ................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Starting a agrotourism business................................................................... 16 Chapter 3: Methodology .................................................................................................. 17 3.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 17 3.1.1 Research Scope ............................................................................................. 18 3.2. Conceptual framework ........................................................................................ 18 3.3. Research Framework .......................................................................................... 19 3.4. Research limitation .............................................................................................. 20 iii 3.5 Data analysis ......................................................................................................... 20 3.5.1 Interviews ......................................................................................................... 21 3.5.2. Questionnaire ................................................................................................. 21 Chapter 4: Result .............................................................................................................. 22 4.1 Bergerden Agropark ............................................................................................. 22 4.1.1 Suppliers and producers ............................................................................... 22 4.1.2 Collectors and Processors ............................................................................ 24 4.1.3 Customers ....................................................................................................... 24 4.1.4. Supply Chain map ......................................................................................... 25 4.1.5 Influencer and Supporter ............................................................................... 25 4.1.6 Tourism ............................................................................................................ 26 4.2 Stakeholders’ perspective towards implementing greenhouse tourism in the area ..................................................................................................................................... 28 4.2.1 Greenhouse owners ....................................................................................... 28 4.2.2 Visitors Perspectives ...................................................................................... 29 4.2.3 Government perspective ............................................................................... 31 4.3 Bergerden Agropark and Sustainability ............................................................. 32 4.3.1 Environmental Performance ......................................................................... 32 4.3.2 Social performance ........................................................................................ 32 4.3.3 Economic performance .................................................................................. 32 4.4 Touristic features of Bergerden Agropark ......................................................... 33 4.5 Attributes of Bergerden Agroparks for new greenhouse entrepreneurs ...... 33 Chapter 5 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 35 5.1 Current situation of Bergerden Agropark .......................................................... 35 5.1.1 Sustainability ................................................................................................ 36 5.2 Government Perspective ............................................................................... 36 5.3 Visitors Perspective ........................................................................................ 36 5.4 Greenhouse owner perspective .................................................................... 37 5.5 Feasibility of sustainable implementation of greenhouse tourism ........... 38 Chapter 6: Conclusion and