Sabz Safar – A Booking Platform for Promoting Agrotourism and Enhancing Rural Development

Abstract

SabzSafar is the first organized digital agritourism platform in Pakistan, with the goal of transforming the way urban populations engage with rural environments, culture, and agriculture. It provides a scalable and sustainable answer to close the gap between rural and urban areas through curated farm experiences, online bookings, and community-based tourism. The platform features an intuitive interface that enables guests to reserve engaging farm activities—like fruit picking, cow milking, tractor rides, and traditional dining—while also giving farmers new income opportunities, increased digital exposure, and logistical assistance. The initiative was launched due to the absence of organized agritourism choices in Pakistan, despite the nation's rich agricultural legacy and rising urban interest in nature-oriented experiences. Through thorough market analysis, discussions with city families and farm proprietors, and competitor research, the SabzSafar team endorsed the business concept and developed a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) using efficient tools such as WordPress and Canva. The platform includes features like real-time bookings, secure online payments, QR-based check-ins, and support in multiple languages. SabzSafar’s revenue strategy incorporates entry fees, activity-based charges, food box orders, staycation rentals, and vendor stall charges during festivals. Additionally, the platform collects a 15% commission on all sales. Initial forecasts indicate a steady revenue increase, with a break-even point expected within 10–15 months post-launch, provided that visitor interest remains strong and operations expand. A phased plan details SabzSafar’s growth from Islamabad to other provinces from 2025 to 2029, with aspirations to launch a marketplace for farm produce, an educational portal for schools, and export options for certified organic products. Risk management strategies—such as modular infrastructure, training for farmers, and seasonal programming—have been integrated into the platform to ensure its resilience and sustainability. The platform not only aims for financial success but also promises a broad range of social benefits. These benefits include economic empowerment for rural households, digital skills development for farmers, promotion of eco-friendly tourism, support for women entrepreneurs to advance gender equity, and educational enhancement for school students. Inspired by global platforms like Airbnb and FarmStay USA, SabzSafar utilizes a hybrid model that merges technology-driven tourism with community empowerment. SabzSafar aspires to be a key advocate for agritourism and rural development policies in Pakistan. It intends to collaborate with local governments, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions