Farm Tourism Summit Aims to Inspire Youth to Explore Farming
Baguio City – Organizers of the upcoming 9th International Farm Tourism Summit are hoping to encourage more young people to take an interest in farming by highlighting the opportunities it offers through tourism.
According to Mina Gabor, former secretary of the Department of Tourism and president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism, the summit aims to show that farming today can go beyond traditional agriculture.
“We are now on our ninth year, and bringing the summit to Baguio allows us to invite stakeholders from the highlands to learn about the many benefits of farm tourism. Farming is not only about tilling the soil anymore—there are many other opportunities connected to it,” Gabor said during a press conference on Thursday.
She also noted that a 2015 study revealed that many farmers in the Philippines are already aging, making it important to encourage the younger generation to become involved in agriculture to ensure the country continues producing food.
The three-day conference will take place from March 4 to 6 at Hotel Supreme. It will gather farm owners, educators, students, researchers, landowners, and other stakeholders from different parts of Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao, as well as from Southeast Asian countries and India.
Gabor added that the passage of Republic Act No. 10816 has helped increase interest in farm tourism across the country. The law supports the development of farms as tourism destinations, which can provide additional income for farmers while attracting more people to the agriculture sector.
During the summit, both international and local experts will share their experiences and best practices in farm tourism. Topics will include climate change adaptation in agriculture, aquaculture, and discussions focused on developing farm tourism products.
Gabor emphasized that the partnership between agriculture and tourism is beneficial because both industries can work together using the same resources without creating unnecessary waste.
Meanwhile, Jovita Ganongan, regional director of the Department of Tourism – Cordillera Administrative Region, said farm tourism also gives young people a chance to learn about agriculture while experiencing life on a farm.
She cited Northern Blossom Flower Farm as an example, noting that many young people have become interested in helping their families open farms to visitors and transform them into tourism destinations.
Currently, there are about 20 farm tourism sites accredited by the Department of Tourism in the Cordillera region. Nationwide, there are around 130 accredited farm tourism destinations, while nearly 800 more are working toward accreditation.
NPO News Team | Philippines News Agency – PR
