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Kansas agritourism operators invited to complete online surveyResponses to help Kansas Department of Commerce evaluate impact of agritourism Kansas The Kansas Department of Commerce is inviting all Kansas agritourism operators to complete an online survey designed to help Commerce staff measure the economic impact of agritourism statewide. The brief multiple-choice survey is available at KansasCommerce.com and asks respondents questions regarding the size, type and location of their agritourism operation. Respondents will not be required to provide personal or contact information. Data collected from the survey will be used to more accurately assess the impact of agritourism in Kansas and craft policy for future industry growth. "This survey is a great way for us to measure our state's growing agritourism industry," said Carole Jordan, Director of the Rural Development Division of the Department of Commerce. "And with the data collected from this survey, we are confident we can continue to enact policy to help move the industry forward." Agritourism is typically defined as the crossroads of traditional agricultural production and tourism and can help traditional Kansas farmers expand their business by making it a tourist destination. Farmers across Kansas are realizing the benefits of tailoring their operations to tourists, who are increasingly longing to visit a working ranch, rope a calf, ride a horse, pick their own apples or tour a winery. These activities provide lifelong memories for tourists and additional revenue for Kansas farmers who host them. The Department of Commerce's involvement in the agritourism industry dates back to the Agritourism Promotion Act of 2004, which was intended to promote the growth of agritourism by: creating a registration process through which the Department of Commerce can assist in the promotion of agritourism operations; limiting liability through signage; and creating a tax credit to help offset the expense of agritourism liability insurance for existing and new operations. For more information, contact Public Information Officer Joe Monaco at 785-296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.
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