Farm industry fast emerging as tourism sub-sector in Phl

CEBU, Philippines — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) sees promising opportunities for farm tourism in the Philippines.

This is the result of the newly released study conducted by SEARCA which emphasized farm tourism as the fastest emerging sub-sector of the broad tourism industry.

But even before this study was released, the Department of Tourism (DOT-7) already identified farm tourism as one of its priorities for development specifically next year.

In coordination with the Department of Agriculture, DOT-7 will identify more farms in the region, including the Tuburan's 2,000 hectares coffee farm, announced DOT-7 regional director Joshur Judd Lanete II.

According to SEARCA, farm tourism will open up new perspectives for inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development (ISARD) and will revitalize the farm tourism sector as a sunrise industry in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

SEARCA director of the farm or agriculture tourism Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., said that the government's thrust in promoting farm tourism mentioning the aggressive pus of Senator Cynthia A. Villar through the Farm Tourism Development Act, is very timely.

The Act effectively institutionalizes the Philippine government’s farm tourism programs in helping raise farmers’ incomes and increase players in the rural tourism industry.

Lanete believes that there are dozens of destination farms in Central Visayas that can be included in the farm tourism roster in the region.

Developing the farm tourism aspect, he said could provide further economic lift of a destination, specifically farmers who usually earn the least.

Farm tourism, is the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational, and recreational purposes which involves any agriculture or fishery-based operation or activity and may also provide a venue for outdoor recreation and accessible family outings.

There are lesser known places [in the region] that are not well assisted [yet], in terms of intensified promotion. Tuburan coffee farm, Lanete believes is a good start for Cebu's take off in farm tourism. (FREEMAN)