Kilimokwanza.org Report

1. Introduction: The Strategic Imperative of East African Agri-tourism

1.1. Global Context and Market Projection

Agri-tourism, the strategic intersection of agriculture and tourism, represents a critical avenue for economic diversification and rural development across the East African Community (EAC). Globally, this niche market is expanding rapidly, demonstrating robust demand and investment viability. The overall agritourism market was valued at US$33.8 billion in 2022 and is projected to soar to $111.1 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5% between 2023 and 2032.¹ This demonstrates a massive international appetite for experiential travel focusing on food production and rural authenticity, signaling a profound opportunity for East African nations.

However, a regional disparity exists. While the African continent (combined with the Middle East) is projected to experience strong growth with a 10.7% CAGR from 2024 to 2030, the total revenue forecast remains comparatively low at $440 million by 2030.² Capturing a larger share of the global market requires the EAC to address fundamental institutional and logistical hurdles, shifting the perception of agricultural visits from optional add-ons to core, high-value experiential tourism products.

1.2. Agri-tourism’s Role in EAC Economic Diversification and Resilience

Tourism has long been a bedrock of the African economy, contributing 8.5% of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, with East Africa remaining a major destination.³ Yet, this reliance is largely concentrated on wildlife safaris and coastal excursions, making the sector highly susceptible to external volatility, such as geopolitical shocks or public health crises.⁴ Agri-tourism offers essential product diversification, enhancing the resilience of the overall tourism sector and leveraging the region’s existing agricultural strengths.⁴

From a development perspective, agri-tourism provides tangible benefits that align with national objectives. It is recognized as a vital mechanism for land conservation, stimulating environmental education, promoting food security, and contributing to poverty reduction by transforming a nation’s natural assets into regenerative cultural and economic ones.⁶ By supporting smallholder agriculture and strengthening local food systems, the sector bridges the gap between production and consumption, driving demand for quality local produce and attracting young talent and investors into the agricultural domain.⁷

1.3. Methodology and Structure of the Analysis

This report investigates the East African agri-tourism ecosystem, focusing on the four core markets of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. The analysis proceeds along five critical dimensions: Geographic Scope, Tour Offerings, Community Impact, Sustainability Practices, and Challenges & Opportunities. It evaluates the distinct operational models emerging in each country, critiques the effectiveness of current socio-economic benefit distribution, and identifies strategic policy interventions required for scalable and equitable growth.

2. Geographic Scope and Operational Landscape

Agri-tourism in East Africa exhibits distinct operational landscapes shaped by geographic access, national agricultural specialization, and the existing tourism infrastructure.

2.1. Kenya: The Commercial and Peri-Urban Model

Kenya’s agri-tourism model is characterized by its concentration around the Central Highlands, specifically Kiambu and Limuru, strategically capitalizing on their proximity to the major urban center of Nairobi.⁹ This location allows for the promotion of high-volume, accessible half-day tours, effectively targeting international visitors arriving in Nairobi and the large, professional middle class seeking agricultural investment opportunities.⁸

Prominent and established commercial estates form the backbone of this model. The Fairview Estate Coffee Farm (14 kilometers from Nairobi) provides classic tours focused on coffee cultivation, processing, and tasting, making it a staple offering.⁹ Similarly, Kiambethu Tea Farm in Limuru is one of the country’s oldest tea farms, offering guided tours and essential farm-to-table lunch experiences.¹¹ A newer, specialized model is represented by Ruwawa Coffee Farm in Kiambu, which offers hands-on coffee farming experiences, cupping sessions, and farm-to-fork dining, emphasizing sustainability by showcasing their zero-waste system and biogas energy conversion.¹²

An emerging model is observed in more remote but scenically rich areas, such as Loitokitok near the Tanzanian border and Mount Kilimanjaro. Nature’s Crest Farm in this region exemplifies a focus on sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship, featuring organic farming methods, eco-cabins, and guided nature walks.¹³ This represents a diversification effort, linking traditional agricultural tours with eco-tourism and environmental education.

2.2. Uganda: Cultural Immersion and Product Diversity

Uganda leverages its rich agricultural diversity, which includes high-value crops like coffee and tea alongside staples such as bananas and honey.¹⁴ Agri-tours in Uganda are frequently integrated into broader eco-tourism and safari itineraries, such as those near the Mount Elgon or Fort Portal areas.¹⁴

The Ugandan approach emphasizes cultural immersion and hands-on learning. MLinza Farm Tour in Zirobwe is a prime example, providing visitors (including school groups and agricultural students) with direct involvement in crop cultivation and livestock care. The farm highlights sustainable and organic farming practices while providing deep insight into Ugandan rural life and local customs.¹⁵ Other notable operations include Nkoma Farm in Mukono, known for its farm-to-table tours, and the Mbarara Stock Farm, which specializes in modern cattle rearing demonstrations.¹⁴

2.3. Rwanda: High-Value Branding and Post-Conflict Innovation

Rwanda has strategically integrated agri-tourism into its overall sustainable tourism goals, leveraging its strong national brand based on high-quality coffee and tea production.¹⁶ The sector is often community-driven, ensuring that guests experience authentic rural traditions and connect directly with local farmers.¹⁷

Key offerings are concentrated in the highlands. Nyungwe and Gisovu Tea Estates offer leisurely walks and insights into processing techniques.¹¹ Similarly, the Gorilla Coffee Experience in Musanze provides a comprehensive “bean-to-cup” journey, linking high-value agriculture directly to Rwanda’s established conservation tourism.¹¹ These interactions not only enhance the visitor’s experience but actively promote cultural preservation, showcasing activities like traditional cooking, indigenous farming techniques, and even banana beer brewing.¹⁷

2.4. Tanzania: Integration with Safari and Coastal Specialties

Tanzania presents two distinct operational models. The first, common on the mainland, involves bespoke integration with high-end safari routes. Operators specialize in weaving detailed agricultural encounters—such as visits to commercial dairy and beef operations, large-scale commercial greenhouses, or traditional interactions with Maasai pastoralists—seamlessly into existing safari itineraries.¹⁸ Companies like Farmer & Wild customize these experiences, providing multi-lingual guides and access to farms deeply rooted in production rather than primary tourism.¹⁸ ZAMAG Tours also specializes in linking agricultural tours with safaris in Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.¹⁹

The second, high-volume model is found in the coastal regions, particularly the Zanzibar Spice Tours. These popular 2- to 3-hour tours take visitors to plantations in the Masingini Forest to learn about various spices and fruits. The experience is highly experiential, often including fruit tasting, spice identification, and performances like coconut tree climbing.²⁰

The specialized operations across East Africa are summarized in the table below:

Table 1: Key Agri-Tourism Farms and Businesses in East Africa (Selected Examples)

Country	Farm/Business Name	Primary Offering	Location Type	Noted Practices (Sustainability/Community)
Kenya	Fairview Estate Coffee Farm	Coffee cultivation, processing, tasting	Peri-Urban (Nairobi/Kiambu)	Focus on commercial high-value crop 9
Kenya	Ruwawa Coffee Farm	Hands-on coffee, Farm-to-Fork dining	Rural (Kiambu)	SCA Certified Sustainable, Biogas Energy, Zero-Waste 12
Kenya	Nature’s Crest Farm	Organic farming, Eco-cabins, Nature walks	Rural (Loitokitok/Kilimanjaro)	Organic/Regenerative, Community Water Provision 13
Kenya	Kiambethu Tea Farm	Tea tours, tasting, farm-to-table lunch	Rural (Limuru)	Established, historical commercial estate 11
Uganda	MLinza Farm Tour	Organic/Sustainable farming, cultural insight, hands-on activities	Rural (Zirobwe)	Sustainable/Organic farming, Cultural Explorations 15
Uganda	Nkoma Farm	Farm-to-table tours, cattle rearing, banana plantations	Rural (Mukono)	Focus on diverse agricultural products 14
Rwanda	Nyungwe/Gisovu Tea Estates	Tea plantations, processing techniques, nature walks	Rural/Highland	High-value product branding, integrated with forest tourism 11
Tanzania	Zanzibar Spice Tours	Spice and fruit identification, tasting, tree climbing performance	Coastal/Island (Masingini Forest)	High-volume, high-density experiential tour 20
Tanzania	Farmer and Wild	Bespoke integrated agricultural encounters (Maasai, greenhouses, dairy)	Mainland/Safari Routes	Deeply rooted in agricultural production, translator guided 18

3. Typology of Agri-tourism Offerings (Dimension: Tour Offerings)

Agri-tourism offerings in East Africa extend far beyond simple farm visits, encompassing rich educational, culinary, and professional engagement experiences.

3.1. Experiential and Educational Tourism

A core attraction of East African farm tours is the demand for authentic, hands-on participation. Visitors actively engage in farming activities, such as picking ripe coffee cherries, pruning trees, sorting beans, or trying their hand at milking dairy cows.⁶ This directly satisfies the human desire for a tangible, educational experience, positioning farms as “living classrooms” rather than merely production sites.⁶

A significant portion of educational tourism focuses on environmental stewardship. Farms such as MLinza Farm and Nature’s Crest Farm highlight organic and sustainable farming methods.¹³ Tours often provide hands-on learning in both modern and traditional farming techniques, appealing directly to eco-tourists, agricultural students, and nature enthusiasts.¹⁵ This focus helps break the traditional misconception that farming is archaic, showcasing it instead as innovative, sustainable, and full of opportunity.⁷

3.2. Culinary and Value-Chain Tours

Culinary experiences are intrinsically linked to the agri-tourism model. The concept of “farm-to-fork” is realized through structured dining, such as the three-course meals offered by Ruwawa Coffee Farm, featuring ingredients harvested just hours prior.¹² This emphasis on freshness and traditional preparation provides an authentic local flavor profile.²² Beyond formal meals, tasting sessions are standard, including expert coffee cupping, tea tasting, and guided spice and fruit tastings (e.g., in Zanzibar).⁶

Moreover, tours offer crucial insights into the agricultural value chain. Visitors explore the rigorous processes behind cash crops destined for international markets, such as the agronomy practices employed in commercial greenhouses cultivating fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers for European or Asian export.¹⁸ They can also meet “supply chain disrupters” and engage in discussions about processing, packaging, and forging new paths from farm to market to plate.⁸

3.3. Specialized Agribusiness and Technology Transfer Tours

A high-value segment of agri-tourism targets professional stakeholders rather than general tourists. These specialized tours are designed for corporate bodies, commercial farmers, and investors seeking technology adoption and business partnerships.⁸ The focus is sharply technical, covering water technology, animal husbandry, value addition (e.g., packing milk or processing chicken products), and energy-saving innovations.⁸

For example, tour organizers facilitate high-level educational trips, such as organizing delegations to major international agricultural technology exhibitions like Agritech in Israel. This function accelerates technology transfer, offering East African farmers and companies the opportunity to sample and import advanced farming technology, which is deemed critical for securing food security amid rising populations and dwindling soil nutrients.⁸ This function of agri-tourism as a bridge for technology and investment is paramount for the sector’s long-term strategic importance.

4. Socio-Economic Impact and Community Development (Dimension: Community Impact)

Agri-tourism is often championed as a potent pathway for rural empowerment and sustainable development.²² However, the analysis of its impact reveals both substantial economic gains and critical governance risks, particularly concerning equitable benefit distribution.

4.1. Economic Multipliers and Livelihood Diversification

For farmers, agri-tourism provides a new, diversified, and more stable income source that complements traditional crop sales.²² This alternative revenue stream is crucial in managing the financial volatility inherent in primary agricultural production.

The economic effect of integrating tourism with agricultural supply chains is significant. General tourism has been shown to create high economic multipliers; analysis in Kenya suggests that for every $1,000 spent by a specialist tourist, $3,600 is generated across the economy, largely through linkages with the food system.²³ Crucially, up to half of the resulting new jobs are expected to benefit lower and middle-income households, directly supporting poverty reduction and livelihoods.²³ Agritourism, with its direct reliance on the food system and rural workforce, is ideally positioned to maximize these inclusive multiplier effects.⁵

4.2. Cultural Preservation and Social Upliftment

The development of agri-tourism strongly supports cultural integrity and social recognition. By transforming local farming methods and cultural practices into valued tourist attractions, their importance is magnified, ensuring their preservation and promoting their transfer to younger generations.¹⁷ This validation enhances the “worth and dignity” of indigenous populations and improves their overall social recognition, often leading to better living conditions.²⁴

The community-driven nature of many Rwandan and Ugandan programs ensures cultural exchange is authentic, connecting travelers to traditional cooking, banana beer brewing, and indigenous farming techniques.¹⁷ By selecting agri-tourism, travelers ensure their dollars directly support local farmers, making their visit an impactful, responsible contribution to community projects, such as improving healthcare or water sources.²²

4.3. Critical Analysis of Revenue Sharing Mechanisms (The Equity Risk)

While agri-tourism aims to deliver rural development ²⁵, its potential is heavily constrained by existing failures in resource governance and benefit sharing—a lesson learned predominantly from established tourism practices around Protected Areas (PAs) in East Africa. The research highlights severe inadequacies in how tourism revenues are distributed.²⁵

Benefits are frequently marginal at the individual level, often averaging negligible per capita investment over long periods.²⁵ Furthermore, revenues are often invested in public assets (e.g., roads, schools) which communities may view as the primary responsibility of the government, thus limiting the perceived direct household benefit.²⁵

The most detrimental consequence of current practices is the prevalence of governance failures, including “elite capture” and distributive inequity. This system often excludes the poorest segments of the population (the lower two to three quintiles) from benefiting directly, and occasionally rewards political loyalty rather than need.²⁵

This structural defect creates an underlying socio-cultural cost. If the economic returns are captured by an elite minority, while the community bears the negative social impacts—such as the introduction of destructive behaviors (drug abuse, prostitution) or the erosion of traditional customs, as noted in Kenya’s Kericho County ²⁴—the agri-tourism model risks becoming exploitative. For agri-tourism to realize its stated developmental goals, enforceable equity provisions must be institutionalized before widespread scaling, ensuring benefits are substantially increased and distributed fairly under close supervision by competent local institutions.²⁶

4.4. Negative Externalities and Land Conflict Mitigation

The rapid expansion of the tourism and agricultural sectors is not without environmental cost. The development of infrastructure related to tourism has, in certain regions, led to farmers encroaching upon nearby forests, which consequently increases human-wildlife conflict.²⁴

Mitigation requires coordinated land management. Successful models, such as the Ol Pejeta conservancy, demonstrate that land can be preserved as a crucial wildlife corridor by “renting” it to wildlife, generating revenue that offsets the value of fragmenting the land for farming.²⁷ By integrating conservation goals (such as supporting rangers and anti-poaching units) with community support (healthcare and educational initiatives), agri-tourism partnerships can proactively mitigate the negative externalities of land-use change.²⁷

The complex interplay of positive economic generation and critical social risk is summarized below:

Table 2: Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Matrix for East African Agri-tourism

Impact Dimension	Positive Effects	Negative Effects and Risks
Livelihood & Income	Diversified and stable income stream 22; High multiplier effects in linked sectors (e.g., food system) 23; Enhanced job creation for lower-middle income households.23	Economic benefits are often marginal at the individual/household level 25; Income inequality may increase due to tourism 5; Benefits plagued by elite capture.26
Culture & Society	Preservation of traditional farming knowledge and local customs 17; Enhanced social recognition and dignity for indigenous populations 24; Fostering cross-cultural understanding.28	Risk of cultural erosion due to changing tastes/destructive lifestyles 24; Introduction of negative social behaviors (drug abuse, prostitution) 24; Social distance created by economic benefits.29
Land Use & Environment	Promotion of sustainable/organic/regenerative farming 13; Land conservation through wildlife corridor preservation 27; Direct contribution to local environmental initiatives (e.g., water, reforestation).13	Expansion accelerates farmers encroaching on natural habitats/forests 24; Increased human-wildlife conflict due to infrastructure development.24

5. Sustainability Frameworks and Practices (Dimension: Sustainability Practices)

Sustainable practices are not merely adjuncts to East African agri-tourism but are increasingly woven into the core identity and marketability of successful operations, serving as a powerful educational tool and conservation mechanism.

5.1. Adoption of Organic and Regenerative Practices

Leading agri-tourism operations emphasize environmental stewardship through specific farming methods. Nature’s Crest Farm is widely cited as a model of sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly practices. The farm uses organic and regenerative methods aimed at improving soil health, decreasing water consumption, and fostering biodiversity, entirely avoiding synthetic chemicals and pesticides.¹³

These methods are integral to the visitor experience, appealing especially to students and eco-tourists who gain knowledge of techniques that protect the environment while maintaining productivity.¹⁵ This hands-on education in environmental stewardship extends beyond the crops to the infrastructure itself, with farms incorporating eco-cabins and facilities built with sustainable materials and energy-efficient solutions.¹³

5.2. Integration of the Circular Economy

Forward-thinking agri-tourism pioneers are actively implementing circular economy principles at the farm level, transforming waste management from a challenge into a resource. Ruwawa Coffee Farm provides an advanced example of a zero-waste ecosystem. This operation integrates livestock—specifically dairy cows—with coffee farming, using agricultural byproducts to generate green energy through a biogas conversion system.¹²

However, the proliferation of micro-level circularity on farms contrasts sharply with a severe macro-level environmental challenge in the region. East Africa’s major urban centers—Kampala, Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam—are grappling with a rapidly escalating municipal solid waste (MSW) crisis. Waste generation is projected to increase by 60–74% by 2030 in these cities, with significant challenges regarding open dumping, low recycling rates, and a general lack of coordinated data on waste management.³¹ The implication is that successful, zero-waste agri-tourism operations risk becoming isolated green islands of sustainability, ultimately overwhelmed by regional pollution if systemic, coordinated waste reduction strategies are not accelerated region-wide.³¹ Policy interventions must support the scaling and integration of farm-based circular models into broader regional waste management and development plans to ensure long-term environmental viability.

5.3. Conservation and Community Partnership

Agri-tourism strategically contributes to conservation efforts by providing alternative economic opportunities that lessen local communities’ reliance on potentially destructive resource exploitation. By supporting local livelihoods through tourism, the sector helps community-led initiatives focused on sustainable development and conservation.³⁰

Specific examples include Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives like Nature’s Crest Farm’s commitment to providing access to clean and safe water to neighboring communities.¹³ Furthermore, revenues linked to eco-tourism, often facilitated by farm tours integrated into safari circuits, help fund critical anti-poaching efforts, ranger employment, and environmental monitoring in adjacent conservancies.²⁷ This economic linkage helps mitigate potential conflicts arising from resource competition between agriculture and wildlife preservation.

6. Challenges, Regulatory Hurdles, and Strategic Opportunities (Dimension: Challenges & Opportunities)

The full realization of East Africa’s agri-tourism potential is hampered by significant institutional, policy, and logistical barriers, which must be addressed through coordinated regional strategies.

6.1. Policy and Institutional Impediments: The Critical Silo Effect

The single most significant structural impediment to scaling agri-tourism is the fragmentation of government mandates. Ministries responsible for Tourism, Agriculture, Trade, and Rural Development frequently operate in isolation—the “policy silo”—preventing the emergence of a unified, cohesive national strategy for the sector.² This lack of coordinated strategy means that policy support for agriculture rarely integrates tourism, reflecting a systemic oversight in national development plans.²

This results in severe regulatory and institutional gaps. The sector lacks deliberate policies and institutional frameworks tailored to the specific needs of agri-tourism operators.² This absence of a regulatory framework leads to “jurisdictional ambiguity,” where operators fall between multiple governmental bodies, risking unnecessary fines or temporary closures, particularly in pioneering operations.² Learning from historical precedents, such as Italy which required specific national and regional laws to regulate the emerging sector in 1985 ², East African nations must prioritize establishing legal and financial frameworks to legitimize and encourage formal agri-tourism enterprise. Compounding this, many established tourism leaders still limit their understanding of agri-tourism to basic “farm stays,” failing to grasp its wide potential encompassing culture, food, education, and rural development.³³

6.2. Logistical and Cross-Border Barriers

The inherent value proposition of East Africa often involves multi-country itineraries (e.g., Kenya and Tanzania, extending to Uganda or Rwanda) as travelers aim to maximize their once-in-a-lifetime trip by combining wildlife, culture, and agricultural experiences.³⁴ However, the logistical complexity and cost associated with cross-border travel inhibit the formation of cohesive regional agricultural circuits.

These multi-country tours involve high costs, separate national park fees per country, and varying visa requirements, despite EAC efforts to ease movement (such as ID-based crossing between Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda).³⁴ The lack of fully harmonized trade and tourism protocols means non-tariff barriers (NTBs) persist, making intra-African movement and commerce, including tourism linkages, cumbersome and expensive.³⁶ This structural inefficiency limits the ability of the EAC bloc to market large, high-value agricultural tourism packages that span multiple national specialties.

Table 3: Policy, Regulatory, and Logistical Challenges for EAC Agri-tourism

Challenge Category	Observed Impediment	Implication for Scaling and Investment	Source
Policy/Governance Silo	Fragmentation: Ministries of Tourism, Agriculture, and Development operate independently.2	Lack of coordinated national strategy; knowledge gaps among officials; limited access to formalized support programs.	2
Regulatory Ambiguity	Absence of deliberate national agritourism policies or guidelines.2	Jurisdictional confusion; operators risk unnecessary fines/shutdowns; hinders institutional trust and large-scale private investment.	2
Revenue Distribution Defect	Tourism revenue sharing is characterized by elite capture and inequitable distribution among poor households.25	Erodes community buy-in and sense of ownership; fails to deliver effective poverty reduction as designed.	25
Cross-Border Logistical Barriers	High costs, complex visas, and non-harmonized regulations for multi-country itineraries (Kenya, Tanzania).34	Limits the development of high-value, cohesive regional agri-tourism circuits, favoring single-country trips.	34

6.3. Opportunity: Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Scaling

The agricultural sector faces immense pressure to adopt Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations to sustain productivity under changing environments.³⁷ However, scaling these innovations among smallholder farming systems in the EAC is challenging, often lacking crucial components such as context-specific tailoring and the application of climate data for decision-making.³⁷

Agri-tourism presents a significant, low-cost opportunity for technology diffusion. Farm tours, particularly those already showcasing organic and regenerative methods (such as Ruwawa or MLinza), can be formalized as practical, observable demonstration sites for CSA technologies. By integrating technology testing and capacity building directly into the tourism itinerary, these operations can become scaling pathways that overcome the difficulty of transmitting complex, context-specific agricultural knowledge to smallholder communities.³⁷

6.4. Opportunity: Leveraging Pastoralism for Tourism

East Africa contains considerable arid rangelands and a significant pastoralist population, which contributes substantially to the region’s livestock production and maintenance of vital tourism attractions (wildlife).³ Although pastoralists are experts in livestock management, they often suffer from land alienation and environmental degradation.³

Agri-tourism provides a mechanism to formalize and monetize the contribution of pastoralist societies to the region’s GDP. By developing tours focused on traditional pastoralist culture, livestock practices, and visits to bomas and manyattas (as already offered by some operators in Tanzania) ¹⁸, the sector can provide a critical, diversified income source for these often-marginalized communities. This validation through tourism can solidify the economic and cultural relevance of pastoralism in the modern EAC economy.³

7. Conclusions and Strategic Recommendations

7.1. Synthesis of Key Findings

East African agri-tourism is a high-potential sub-sector, poised to capture significant global growth by diversifying the region’s tourism product beyond wildlife and beach assets. Leading operators across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania are demonstrating sophisticated models, integrating experiential learning, culinary excellence, and advanced sustainable practices, including the circular economy. However, the sector’s long-term sustainability and ability to deliver equitable rural transformation are compromised by pervasive institutional fragmentation and defects in benefit distribution. Without deliberate policy integration and governance reform to ensure equitable revenue sharing, the economic boom risks exacerbating social inequality and environmental conflict.

7.2. Recommendations for Policy Harmonization and Governance Reform

R1: Establish a Multi-Ministerial Agri-Tourism Regulatory Framework.

National governments must eliminate the “policy silo” by establishing joint task forces comprising Ministries of Agriculture, Tourism, Trade, and Rural Development. These task forces must formulate and implement harmonized national and regional policies that formally define, regulate, and actively promote agri-tourism as a specific economic sub-sector, reducing jurisdictional ambiguity for operators and encouraging standardized growth.2

R2: Mandate Revenue Sharing Equity Review.

The operational defects found in existing tourism revenue sharing models must be systematically reviewed and reformed. Policy must substantially increase the magnitude of the local share directed to host communities. Furthermore, distribution mechanisms must be secured by competent, legitimate, and closely supervised local institutions to ensure equitable distribution, specifically targeting the poorer quintiles to mitigate elite capture and maximize poverty reduction impact.26

R3: Integrate EAC Trade and Tourism Protocols.

EAC member states should prioritize the swift reduction of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and harmonize visa and permit requirements for regional agri-tourism operators and international visitors. This is essential for lowering the cost and complexity of multi-country agri-tours, enabling the successful commercialization of high-value regional agricultural and cultural circuits.34

7.3. Recommendations for Private Sector Investment and Technological Scaling

R4: Prioritize Investment in CSA Demonstration Hubs.

Private sector investors, in partnership with international development organizations, should fund pioneering agri-tourism farms (such as those demonstrating zero-waste and biogas technology) to function as formalized, accessible demonstration hubs for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). This strategy leverages the educational component of tourism to accelerate knowledge diffusion and capacity building among surrounding smallholder farmers.12

R5: Support Agribusiness Linkage Tours.

Operators and government trade ministries should actively subsidize and market specialized educational tours that connect local farmers and agribusinesses with international agricultural technology providers and value-addition partners. This targeted strategy will accelerate the import of smart agricultural technologies and processing expertise, securing food security and enhancing competitiveness across the sector.8

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