Law 20 February 2006, n.96 Discipline of the agritourism.

This Law, in harmony with the rural development programmes of the European Union, regulates the agri-tourism discipline. Rules here provided are aimed at supporting the agriculture by promoting suitable forms of tourism in the countryside, aimed at: protecting, qualifying and enhancing the resources specific to every territory favoring the maintenance of human activities in rural areas; favoring multifunctionality in agriculture and the differentiation of agricultural incomes; encouraging agricultural entrepreneurs’ initiatives to protect the soil, the territory and the environment through the increase of corporate incomes and the improvement of the quality of life; recovering the rural building heritage while preserving the landscape characteristics; supporting and encouraging typical products, quality products and related food and wine traditions; promoting rural culture and nutritional education; promoting agricultural and forestry development. Agro-touristic activities mean reception and hospitality activities provided by agricultural entrepreneurs referred to in article 2135 of the Civil Code, also in the form of companies of capital or persons, or associated with each other, through one's own company in connection with the activities of cultivation of the land, of forestry and of animal breeding. The agricultural entrepreneur and his family members as well as temporary, permanent and part-time employees can be involved in carrying out agricultural activities pursuant to Article 230-bis of the Civil Code. Also activities carried out by fishermen in relation to hospitality, including fishing-tourism are considered as agro-tourism. The Minister of Agricultural and Forestry Policies, in agreement with the regions and autonomous provinces and after consulting the most representative national agritourism associations at the national level, prepares a three-year programme, which can be updated annually, aimed at promoting Italian agritourism on national and international markets.