Australian Agritourism Network (AAN), Media Release, 1 July 2026

There’s something quite magical about life on a farm. Picking apples fresh from the tree. Milking a cow. Finishing the day around a campfire, glass of local wine in hand. These simple pleasures have become bucket list items. And while it’s easy for farmers to take these everyday moments for granted, many are now embracing agritourism. Visitors from across the country and around the world are being invited to share in these extraordinary, ordinary experiences.

Though the industry isn’t new, agritourism is now being recognised as an important emerging tourism sector across Australia. For farmers in agritourism, having a voice and a seat at the table to ensure the industry can grow sustainably whilst protecting the primacy of agriculture is incredibly important.

*The collective voice of farmers across the country who choose to diversify their farm business with agritourism will now be well represented as Australian Agritourism Network (AAN) announces its formation as a farmer-led peak body for Australian agritourism operators. The peak body has been established to facilitate a strong communication network within the industry. The organisation will provide representation, support and advocacy for farmers in agritourism to encourage the responsible growth of the industry across Australia, whilst protecting and strengthening the agricultural interests of our farmer members to incorporate agritourism alongside existing agricultural businesses.

President, Tim Parsons, officially announced the formation of the association today at the Global Agritourism Network Conference in Scotland saying “Based on research from Tourism Research Australia (TRA), the demand for Agritourism is well documented and understood whilst supply side information is lacking. There is a knowledge gap where farmers are over-regulated, over-advised and underrepresented. The time is right to launch a farmer, operator led, national association as a critical outcome to the strategic goal of forming a national agritourism body. The current fragmentation of policy, state priorities and competition for support and extension dictates that the best way forward is to form a network for farmers by farmers.“

Mr Parsons, with his family, are 7th generation farmers at Curringa Farm in central Tasmania, a 300ha mixed farm with 9 self-contained cottages and experiential farm tours with sheep shearing and dog show demonstrations with BBQ lunches – commencing the agritourism component in 1984. Tim has been a long-time advocate for agritourism via his engagement in local, regional, national and global tourism platforms. Curringa Farm was internationally recognised in 2024 as a recipient of a Global Agritourism Award, presented by Agritourism India.

“Australian Agritourism Network acknowledges the agritourism leadership and advocacy provided thus far by Australian Regional Tourism (ART). The National Agritourism Strategy Framework was a catalyst for a growing movement that now sees the potential that we have long known existed, being recognised across all levels of government and the wider tourism industry. As we move forward with a raised profile and a heightened awareness around our industry, ensuring that we grow sustainably and with integrity will be critical to the future success of agritourism in Australia.” Mr Parsons said.

Queensland’s Kay Tommerup, Vice President of AAN, farmer and agritourism operator, said “We believe that a united voice at a national level, led by farmers and supported by tourism, will encourage the sustainable growth of our industry and indeed protect the agricultural authenticity that is the essence of agritourism. In my role as President of Agritourism Queensland, the Qld peak body, I have seen first-hand the tremendous benefits that flow from farmer-led advocacy and engagement with government and industry stakeholders. Having this network now extend to a national level demonstrates the growth of agritourism across Australia and provides a much-needed united voice.”

Australian Agritourism Network looks forward to working with government, and stakeholders across the tourism and agricultural sectors, advocating for support and legislative change that encourages meaningful outcomes for the agritourism sector, helping to build and nurture thriving farm businesses and vibrant rural communities.

To ensure the organisation is representative of the wide-ranging agritourism sector, the committee consists of farmer representatives from across the country, all bringing knowledge and experience from a broad range of agricultural and agritourism businesses.

Mr Parsons said he believes this is a tremendous step forward for the agritourism industry, and the farmers who operate within this space. “A farmer-led support network with grass-roots advocacy for farmers in agritourism, with a direct channel to industry stakeholders has long been the missing piece to the puzzle. The formation of Australian Agritourism Network will encourage the growth of authentic agritourism experiences whilst providing a peer support network that is vitally important for farmers in our industry.”