DOT picks Bohol as pilot area to promote agri-tourism in CV

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has identified Bohol, to pioneer the promotion of agri-tourism in Central Visayas, along with other three provinces across the Philippines.

DOT-7 regional director Rowena Montecillo announced that the Agri-Tourism program in Bohol will focus on the vicinity of the 13.5 kilometer stretch of Abatan, River, which covers four municipalities these are Cortes, Maribojoc, Antequera, Balilihan, and Catigbian.

The program, supported by Senator Kiko Pangilinan, has a seed money of P5 million from the Senator’s budget, while the four agencies the DOT, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are also requested to pitch-in funding for this particular move.

Other provinces that will be made as pilots in the agri-tourism program are Camarines Sur, Davao and Palawan.

In Bohol, Montecillo said aside from promoting the Abatan River, farmers are expected to improve their livelihood with the promotion of different industries that will benefit from the agri-tourism program.

In this four municipalities, industries like Nipa wine making, rice production, vegetables, baskets among others are seen to hit the interest of both local and foreign tourists, Montecillo said.

Initially, aside from establishing activities for this particular tourism dimension Montecillo said a showroom will be constructed to showcase the agri products that are available in the area.

Infrastructure, like roads will also be fixed going to the destinations in order to boost and hype the advantage of agri-tourism in the Philippines, specifically in these four provinces.

According to Montecillo, this dimension of tourism is another attraction, as well as livelihood opportunity for farmers in the outskirts of Bohol.

She added that with this program, the Local Government Units (LGUs) in Bohol has critical role in promoting agri-tourism.

“This program will not only help the tourism arrivals or tourism receipts in the province, but most of all the farmers,” Montecillo reiterated.

The DOT is tasked to promote the program to both local and foreign markets, while the DTI will help the packaging of the agri-based products that will be made available for sale to tourists, while the DA will help farmers to increase their production, as demand is expected to improve once the program is running.

In 2010, Asian Development Bank indicated that some 33 percent Filipinos were directly or indirectly employed in agriculture, while nine percent were in industries and the rest in the service sector.

Ealier, Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano underscored the hospitality of Filipinos as an asset in promoting agritourism.

“The strength is how people in the rural area receive people. They may be poor but the way they receive people is something (and) we should tap into that part of our culture and attitude,” Serrano said.

As a hybrid concept fusing together the elements of the tourism and agriculture industries, agritourism can be harnessed as a form of special interest tourism focusing on the unique travel experiences and activities that people can have in agricultural settings.

When people travel, it is the attraction or experience that people go for; if food and beverage, accommodation and transportation are included in the package, even a farm can be a tourist destination said assistant Professor at UP’s Asian Institute of Tourism Eli Paolo Fresnoza.

The professor further explained  that agritourism is sustainable tourism as it marries the concept of enjoyment with resource management, community empowerment, cooperation, fair trade and diversification.

Moreover, agritourism does not need large capital investment outlay because many existing farm sites just need to be enhanced.

In 2002, with the vision of the Philippines becoming the premier agritourism destination in Asia, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) worked with the UP Asian Institute of Tourism on a manual that identified initial agritourism sites all over the country such as the C & B Orchid Farm in San Rafael, Bulacan, Sonya’s Secret Garden in Alfonso, Cavite, Oroverde in Guimaras, and Del Monte Plantation in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. In recent years, more agritourism sites have been developed including Bohol Bee Farm in Dauis, Bohol, Dragon Fruit Farm in Burgos, Ilocos Norte and The Farm at San Benito, Batangas.  (FREEMAN)