Abstract
Agritourism is a form of rural tourism that focuses on rural intangible culture. Typically, tourism specialists plan a collection of adventures and activities to make their area a destination and capture much needed currency from tourist spending but frequently overlook the value of the agricultural sector. This presentation outlines our collaborative efforts with local producers in Ghana’s Volta Region to develop an agritourism trail as an artistic performance of local food traditions, culture, and cuisine. From the sight of the delicate pinks of the cocoa blossom to the tangy taste of the slimy flesh surrounding the cocoa bean, the senses hum. Saunterers on the Asogli Agritourism Trail encounter traditional production of cocoa, as well as coffee, palm, groundnuts, casava, honey, rice, cowpeas, and more. Through agritourism, food traditions become an artistic performance where participants engage with producers in creating and experiencing foods, colors, textures, flavors, aromas in a vivid display as varied as a painter’s palette. Self-identified representative foods are recognized as culinary strengths of the community. They provide a way to express oneself and their community identity, to be seen, to be recognized, and to be appreciated. At an intersection of agriculture, cuisine, and tourism, agritourism grants access to communities that are not typically considered touristic destinations where farmers generously share their lived experience and Intangible Cultural Heritage. The experience has the power to create an artistic output that engages, humanizes, and values traditional peoples and products.
Presenters
Nathan CrookAssociate Professor, Arts, Science, Business, The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States D. Rose Elder
Associate Professor, Coordinator Humanities and Social Sciences, Arts, Science and Business, Ohio State University ATI, Ohio, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Agritourism, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Performance, Ghana, Rural Development
