Tree Farmer - January/February 2011 - (Page 20)

Tools for managing Risk in Tourism By Tree Farm issues, and adherence to environmental regulations. Basically, landowners preparing to welcome the public to their land must ask themselves a number of hard questions: • Am I prepared to host visitors on my land? • What kind of insurance do I need? • What if I am planning to serve food or alcohol? • Am I responsible for the actions of my employees? • Is my website secure? • Do I need to make changes to my facilities? • Do I need any permits? • Who can help? In response to these complicated questions, recent risk management workshops in farm and forest tourism revealed three key tools that can help Tree Farmers successfully manage Amsden Chase BeN & LISA Many owners of small forests and working farms welcome the public to their land for a variety of recreational activities, including hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and hiking. These visitors not only provide substantial economic benefits, but also contribute to the local community by promoting place-based, hands-on education, preserving traditional techniques for land use, and by developing a rural sense of place. There are, however, pitfalls associated with the development of this kind of rural, land-based tourism. For example, even if no money exchanges hands during a visit, the landowner can be exposed to significant measures of risk. This risk is more than just personal or business liability, and often includes financial and legal concerns, protection for investments in infrastructure, strategic business planning, human resource questions of risk. Here we will describe these workshops, present three key tools for risk management, and describe how these tools can address a number of important risk management questions. By using these tools to address the complexities of risk management, Tree Farmers can use up-to-date information and best practices to ensure the success of their tourism venture. risk Management Workshops In 2009 and 2010, university Extension faculty in Vermont and New Hampshire created several grant-funded workshops to facilitate the development of farm and forest visitation and tourism throughout the region. This type of visitation, known as agritourism, is an important community resource that is vitally important to the local economy. From an economic perspective, agritourism added $10.5 million to Vermont 20 International Year of Forests, 2011 Tree Farmer JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tree Farmer - January/February 2011

Tree Farmer - January/February 2011
Contents
Cover Story
2010 Northeast Regional Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Sponsored by STIHL, Inc.
Managing Risk in Agritourism
Taxing Issues
Woodland Security
Wildlife Matters

Tree Farmer - January/February 2011