STATUS OF AGRO-TOURISM CENTERS: A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF SELECTED AREA OF MAHARASHTRA

Abstract- The present study status of Agro-tourism development of rural areas in western Maharashtra. The study region is mainly agrarian having 82.24 percent net sown area of the total geographical area. Agro tourism is one such form of tourism which has recently emerged in Maharashtra. Agro tourism for farmers is considered as “A range of activities, service and amenities provided by farmers and rural people to attract tourist to their area in order to generate extra income for their business”. Agro tourism for tourist is considered as anything that connect tourist with the heritage, natural resource unique to the agricultural industry. Agro tourism involves any agriculturally based operation that brings visitors to farm a ranch. Western Maharashtra has great potential to the development of agro tourism, because of natural conditions and different type of agro products as well as variety of natural traditions, festivals. It gives an opportunity to the tourists to experience rural life, taste the traditional food and to live a peaceful environment