Farm tourism sites sprouting in Calabarzon

MANILA, Philippines — The Calabarzon region has seen a surge in the number of accredited farm tourism sites this year, a tourism official said.

Department of Tourism-Region 4A regional director Rebecca Llabit told The Star that CALABARZON has more than doubled its number of accredited farm tourism sites to 20  this year.

Llabit said CALABARZON closed 2016 with only nine accredited farm tourism sites.

Based on latest available figures from the DOT, the country has a total of 37 accredited agro-tourism/farm sites.

She cited the Costales Nature Farms in Laguna as one of the main contributors to  the farm tourism sector’s growth.

“Most of the farm owners are enrolled in short courses in Costales farms and other farm sites that are learning centers in the region,”Llabit said.

The regional director noted the diversity of farm tourism which offers tourists a holistic experience

Tourism Undersecretary Alma Rita Jimenez earlier said the aim of farm tourism is to expand the market for farmers.

“And you cannot expand the market if you expect the people to go there and buy the produce. You have to find a way to get your produce out to the market and that is through tourism experience,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez said creating farm destinations alone would not allow the farm tourism sector to flourish, since most tourists would only visit these areas once, just for the experience.

She added that there is also a need for product tourism.

The DOT will put in place a national farm tourism strategic action plan to make agriculture a new tourism product.

An interim farm tourism development board composed of representatives from  the DOT, Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry and the private sector will craft the said action plan.

A technical working group composed of representatives from the Agricultural Training Institute, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Science and Technology and financial institutions like Landbank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines will also be formed  to assist the board in formulating the national farm tourism strategic action plan.