This document outlines a proposed research project that aims to identify the main driver of agritourism development and how it benefits sustainable rural areas. The researcher plans to conduct a literature review to synthesize existing research on whether agritourism is primarily economically or socioculturally driven, or a combination of both. Weber's theory of formal and substantive rationality will provide a framework. The objectives are to identify the main driver, examine comprehensive understanding, and evaluate findings and benefits for policy.

1. ‘What is the main driver of Agritourism
Development and how does it benefit
Sustainable Rural Areas’
Name: Sean Howley
Student ID: 15078086

2. Research Interest
The idea of this research had it’s genesis from the
author’s interest about agritourism development

3. Proposed Research Problem
The literature highlights the inconsistency in scholarly
research as to what constitutes the main motive of agritourism
development
Research has focussed on either economic or social aspects
and haven’t really synthesised both elements to provide a
methodical conclusion
Literature that has combined both elements has just focussed
on a particular location and not given an overall perspective

4. Research Objectives
The research has three objectives:
1) Identify the main driver of agritourism
development
2) Examine a comprehensive understanding of
the main incentive in agritourism development
3) Evaluate the findings and the benefits they
provide for agritourism policy and practice

5. Proposed Research Question & Hypotheses
What is the main driver of Agritourism Development and how
does it benefit Sustainable Rural Areas?
1. The development of Agritourism is primarily economically
driven
2. The development of Agritourism is primarily sociocultural
driven
3. The development of Agritourism relies on a combination of
both concepts

6. Proposed Research Design
This topic is planned to be analysed through a
literature review of international scholarship and
debates around agritourism
The methodology for this research will be an
extensive use of secondary literature
It will involve the summary, collation and synthesis
of existing research where data will be collected from
relevant research subjects

7. Theoretical Framework
Weber’s theory of formal and substantive rationality
is planned to be used as a possible theoretical
framework for research
This study hopes to be supported by Weber’s theory
as a framework for establishing the main motive for
agritourism development
Motives between formal (economic) reasons and
substantive (sociocultural) reasons will be the main
focus

8. Preliminary Literature Review
(Similar Topics)
A Phenomenological Study of Agritourism
Entrepreneurship on Ontario Family Farms
(Ainley, 2014)
Generating public and private benefits through
understanding what drives different types of
agritourism (Flanigan, Blackstock & Hunter,
2015)