Present, Problems, And Developing Countermeasures About Sightseeing Orchard In Guangdong Province

Sightseeing orchard is an important component of agro-tourism. It is a new industry combining fruit production and tourist industry. Based on the survey of three sightseeing orchards in Guangdong Province, Zhongshan Haishang Garden, Yuehu Sightseeing Orchard, and New Pearl River Rose Garden, present and problems of the sightseeing orchards in Guangdong Province were summarized and developing strategies of sightseeing orchard were proposed in this thesis.The survey showed that there were 92 sightseeing orchards in Guangdong Province, which attracted about 5 million tourists annually. Total income was 0.5 billion per year. Among them, 70% were in good management, 30% were bad. Most of the orchards located in Panyu, Zhengcheng, where were near Guangzhou City. There were very few in mountainous area, North and West Guangdong. The orchards could be divided into 3 styles, large-, middle- and small-scale. Divided by the function, there were 5 styles, production, recreation, science & technology education, folk-custom culture and integrated style. The production style focused on production, opening time was usually short. Recreation style focused on tour, the fruit production was just assistant and one part of sightseeing. Science & technology education style based on high-tech establishment, advanced producing technology, and excellent fruit variety. Folk-custom culture style combined both folk-custom and farming characteristics of Guangdong Province. Integrated style covered almost the former 4 styles, so its invest capital was usually high. There were many items in integrated style, developmental potential of this style was much higher than the other 4 styles. Sightseeing orchard was different from traditional agriculture and single tour industry. Production, ecology, view and sightseeing were combined together. Agricultural product was commercialized in this process. Sightseeing orchards focused on developing good ecological environment. Tourists were able to join the farming activity and learn some horticulture knowledge while enjoying the beautiful scenery area and man-made recreation orchards. They had become a good place for people to spend their holidays.Lacking of macro-scale management and not well known were two major problems for sightseeing orchard industry in Guangdong Province. According to the survey in three sightseeing orchards, Zhongshan Haishang Garden, Yuehu Sightseeing Orchard, and New Pearl River Rose Garden, the key factor leading to its success was site selection. Nature, technology, economy, location, traffic condition and the local consumption mentality should be taken into account when choosing the site. In order to achieve sustainable development, fruit production should be assorted with tour when the items were setting. The items should be tally with the ecological rule and be provided with effective production ability and beautiful view. In production process, ecological environment protection, implementing organic farming, using biological pest control method and biological originated fertilizer, rational energy recycle should be enhanced. The most important goal of sightseeing orchard should be providing a lot of safe food and developing the healthy ecological idea of public. Sightseeing orchards in proper location and good management achieved not only significant economic benefit, but also significant benefits for ecology and society. By contrary, sightseeing orchard in unsuitable location where environment became worse, no satisfactory was achieved.Based on the survey of the whole sightseeing orchards in Guangdong Province and analysis of three important orchards, eight countermeasures were put forward in this thesis for agro-tourist industry development in Guangdong Province. These countermeasures are as follows: 1) programming properly, reducing eyeless invest, giving prominence to items, keeping the market attractive by government guidance, constituting of industry standard; 2) implementing macro-scale control; 3) enhancing ability of agricultural production and production quality; 4) advocating science & technology education; 5) improving staff training and promote service quality; 6) creating folk-custom culture brand; 7) creating tourist products; 8) enhancing market management and keeping healthy ecological environment. Above suggestions are some ideas for developing agro-tourist industry.