RELATIONSHIP OF AGRITOURISM GROWTH ON ORGANIC FARMLAND IN VENETO REGION: A GIS-BASED SPATIAL ANALYSIS USING ADMINISTRATIVE AND STATISTICAL DATA

Agritourism and organic farming are important components of sustainable rural development. They support farm diversification, environmental protection, and income stability. In Italy, and in the Veneto region, both sectors have grown steadily over the past decade. However, limited research has examined their spatial relationship at the municipality level using quantitative spatial methods. This study analyzes the territorial connection between agritourism growth and organic farming development in the Veneto region through GIS-based spatial analysis. The first objective of the study examines the spatial distribution and evolution of organic farming between 2010 and 2020 at the municipality level. The analysis considers farm numbers, agricultural areas, and production orientation in crop and livestock systems. The second objective examines the spatial distribution and growth of agritourism activities between 2014 and 2019. This includes accommodation, catering, tasting services and other related activities. The third objective assess the spatial relationship between organic farming and agritourism. The study identifies correlations and territorial areas where both sectors develop together. The research uses administrative and statistical data from national and regional sources. Indicators were constructed to measure the share and percentage-point change of organic farms, organic agricultural area, agritourism farms, and related services at the municipality level. GIS techniques were used to visualize spatial patterns. Pearson correlation and cross-tabulation analysis were applied to examine cross-sector relationships. The results indicate uneven though consistent growth in both sectors throughout the region. Moderate positive spatial correlations are observed in several municipalities. These areas are mainly located in mountain zones, coastal areas, and tourism-oriented territories. The relationship is not uniform across the region. This study contributes to rural development research through the integration of agritourism and organic farming within a unified spatial analytical framework at the municipality level. This analysis provides empirical evidence on the spatial interaction between farms diversification and sustainable land use across territories. The findings contribute to the design of place-based rural policies and present a methodological framework that can be extended to other European regional contexts.