Ex-DOT chief: Farm tourism ‘very Filipino,’ benefits communities

A uniquely Filipino kind of tourism will benefit farms in the country that are being developed into health-and-wellness destinations, which are expected to be major domestic-tourism draws, a former tourism secretary said recently. 

During the press conference for the Fourth Farm Tourism Conference, to be held in Tagaytay City, Cavite province from July 14 to 16, International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) President Dr. Mina Gabor said farm tourism is very Filipino because it offers products grown by farmers and generates jobs to those living in communities near farms.

“Once there is farm tourism, income distribution grows, and it goes to the community,” said Gabor, who headed the Department of Tourism (DOT) during the Ramos administration.

“We should really push [for] farm tourism. It is very Filipino. From the moment you open the door to farm tourism, everything is very Filipino,” she added.

“Farm tourism attracts visitors to [farming] areas, generally for educational and recreational purposes…. It is one of the country’s sunshine industries [that] can be developed because of the agricultural nature of [our] economy,” Gabor said.

“Farm tourism, which is under the World Tourism Organization’s [WTO] nature-tourism concept, presents bright prospects for the tourism industry, as WTO data showed that 20 percent to 25 percent of international tourist arrivals go to destinations categorized as ‘nature tourism,’” she added.

The data also showed that an average of 1 billion tourists traveled every year as of 2014, according to Gabor.

In a report, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) said data would be gathered on farm tourism from farms in many parts of the country, including more than 100 in Cavite alone.

An inventory it made showed that most of these farms are clustered, or near each other, presenting an opportunity for them to be integrated.

To be released during this week’s conference is a directory of farm-tourism destinations that, Gabor said, will be a step forward in attaining inclusive growth for farmers and their communities.

She gave the assurance that local farm-tourism spots would comply with world tourism standards on such destinations.

The former tourism secretary said Republic Act 10816, or the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016, will pave the way for the growth of farm tourism in the country.

Consultations are being made for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this law.

Gabor said the Department of Agriculture, which is tasked to review farm-tourism destinations, has sought the participation of industry stakeholders, including schools, in coming up with the IRR.

She also said the law has provisions on benefits, free research, financing, and infrastructure, among others.

“They will be guided on how to get investments and training of staff and management, and on the criteria for accrediting the areas, marketing and promotion, and the loans for farm tourism,” Gabor said.

“And by the act of this bill, there will be opening up of doors together with the private sectors. We are very clear that terms of conditions will be for small and medium enterprises,” she added.

Regarding the conference, Gabor said it will bring experts from Thailand to talk on the biodiversity protection, particularly the promotion of the cultivation of bees, with one breed in the Philippines considered unique because these are the only “stingless” ones in the world.

“The presence of bees in a farm means there is good biodiversity and the place is OK,” she said.

The conference will also have breakout sessions, including on tour packages for farms, marketing and promotions, and tourism exhibits.

Gabor said a farm-tourism conference in Lucban town, Quezon province, a few years ago revealed that Region 4A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces, or Calabarzon) has the highest number of DOT-accredited farms.

The TPB said that, because Region 4A is near transport hubs, it also possesses other tourism spots, such as good beaches and areas for snorkeling and agritourism.

Among the farm-tourism products and services that this region offers are coffee and coconuts.

Some of the farms offer not only gastronomical delights, but also healing and medicinal services from farm products, according to the agency.