Purchasing an Agriturismo - IAP

Over the last few years in Tuscany, and especially in the Maremma, the real estate market regarding the purchase of Agriturismo has grown strongly. However, the dream of creating an independent structure, linked to the production and sale of local products in a dream location, immersed in the green Tuscan countryside, is what most attracts Italian and foreign investors.

This involves some bureaucratic steps that the future owner will inevitably have to face. Sometimes, in fact, the procedures for opening such activities can be longer than expected, and this is why it is necessary to rely on experts like us, able to assist and support future owners in this new adventure.

Engel & Voelkers of Castiglione della Pescaia - Argentario has therefore decided to offer its customers useful information that can help them. 

So? What do you need to do to open your own Agriturismo? 

First of all, in order to open your own agri-tourism business, you must be an IAP, or Professional Agricultural Entrepreneur (Imprenditore Agricolo Professionale).

A Professional Agricultural Entrepreneur (IAP) is someone who possesses professional knowledge and skills and who dedicates at least fifty per cent of his or her total working time to agricultural activity, earning at least fifty per cent of his or her total income from it. For farmers operating in disadvantaged areas, these requirements are reduced to 25 per cent.

So HOW is it possible to obtain the IAP qualification? 

This was handled by Regione Toscana, which issued Regional Law no. 45 of July 2007, outlining the rules on agricultural entrepreneurship and agricultural enterprise. This law regulates the procedure for acquiring IAP status, adopting a simplified mechanism based on self-certification of possession of the requirements.

This request for recognition of the requirements or the commitment to obtain them within two years is submitted directly to A.R.T.E.A (Azienda Regionale Toscana Per Le Erogazioni In Agricoltura), whose control is delegated to the U.T.R (Uffici Territoriali Regionali), which also take care of the examinations to obtain recognition of professional capacity.

Even if initially these bureaucratic steps may seem too long and complicated, with the help and support of experts, the opening of your agritourism business will be a success! 

Follow us again and stay tuned thanks to our blog for everything you need to know about opening the Agriturismo of your dreams!