ILOILO CITY-- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is targeting to establish farm tourism sites in every town nationwide.
DOT Undersecretary for Ecotourism, Farm Tourism and Faith Tourism Advocacy Silvino Tejada said the goal of one tourism site in every town is just among the proposed programs of the department for 2018.
“This will be a long term goal of DOT at the same time a lasting legacy from all of us here who are promoting the country as a leading agri-tourism and providing income opportunities for farmers,” Tejada said in his speech Tuesday during the second day of the 5th Farm Tourism Conference and Festival here.
Other than that, they are aiming to develop materials such as consumer tourism brochure on farm tourism, coffee table book, workbooks on farm tourism for local government units, development of farm tourism mentorship program, cultural development program and other marketing activities to further promote farm tourism of the country.
Tejada said that there will be a consultation meeting by the DOT and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other stakeholders so they will be able to come up with an “excellent marketing platform for farm tourism.”
He said that these are just among the activities in the pipeline as they are planning to launch a program dubbed “Farm Tourism Philippines” next year, as well as conduct a national summit, which will be a venue for the introduction of farm tourism development goal among tourism stakeholders in the country.
In a previous interview with Tejada, he said there are only over 800 farm tourism sites identified in the country, 36 of them are accredited by DOT while others are still processing their requirements.
Meanwhile, DOT-6 regional director Helen Catalbas welcomed the plan, saying that mayors and farmers are responding very enthusiastically on farm tourism.
Western Visayas has seven farm tourism sites, next to Calabarzon with 12.
These are Ephrathah Farms, Badiangan, Iloilo; Orchard Valley, Pavia, Iloilo; RPJ Multi-Ventures Inc. (Midway), Passi City, Iloilo; Peñalosa Farms, Victorias City, Negros Occidental; May's Organic Garden and Restaurant, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Owataks Herb Farm and Resort, Talisay City, Negros Occidental; and Rapha Valley Place of Wellness, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
But Catalbas said that they are targeting to establish 10 tourism sites before the end of this year and 30 sites by the end of 2018.
“This does not only cover agricultural farms but fish farms also that is why we are closely working with BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) as our converging agency also. We look at Western Visayas as farm tourism Capital of the south, we are targeting that way,” she added. (PNA)
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