Baguio: The organizers of the upcoming 9th International Farm Tourism Summit are aiming to invigorate the interest of young individuals in farming by highlighting its potential through tourism.
According to Philippines News Agency, the summit is being organized to promote the added value of agriculture when combined with tourism, especially to address the aging population of farmers in the Philippines.
Dr. Mina Gabor, former Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary and president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism, emphasized during a press conference that the event is designed to enlighten highland stakeholders about the multifaceted benefits of farm-tourism. The conference, scheduled to take place at the Hotel Supreme from March 4 to 6, will attract a diverse group of participants, including farm owners, advocates, educators, students, researchers, landowners, and other stakeholders from Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao, as well as Southeast Asian countries and India.
Gabor highlighted the influence of Republic Act 10816, known as the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016, which has sparked interest among various stakeholders. She pointed out that the summit aims to inspire the youth to partake in farm tourism, thereby addressing the challenge of an aging farmer population. The event will feature discussions by international and local guest speakers on topics pertinent to both aspiring and current farm tourism operators. It will also cover the adaptation of the agriculture sector to climate change, aquaculture, and product-focused discussions.
Jovita Ganongan, DOT-Cordillera director, added that farm tourism could offer the youth valuable insights and experiences beyond traditional farming. She cited the example of Northern Blossom in Atok, Benguet, where many young individuals have expressed interest in transforming their family farms into tourism sites. Ganongan noted that there are currently 20 DOT-accredited farm tourism sites in the Cordillera region and emphasized ongoing efforts to encourage more people to engage in tourism-enhanced farming activities.
Currently, there are 130 DOT-accredited farm-tourism areas across the Philippines, with approximately 800 sites in the process of obtaining accreditation.
