CSF LGU innovates to spur farm, food tourism in new normal

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Local Government of San Fernando, thru the City Tourism Office, has started innovating to further develop farm and gastronomy tourism here.

On Thursday, more than 25 stakeholders, including travel and tour operators, accommodation establishments, restaurants, farm tourism sites, and Capampangan chefs, attended a two-day seminar/ workshop dubbed as “Development of Farm and Gastronomy Tours.”

“Isa sa mga identified new innovations natin ay ang pagbuo ng new tour packages na patungkol sa farm and gastronomy or food tourism. Kasi ito yung mga nakikita nating opportunity para dito sa ating industriya sa siyudad lalo na kilala ang Pampanga bilang isang culinary capital,” explained City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan.

“Isa pa, mayroon na rin tayong mga outdoor settings kagaya ng mga farm sites or agri-farm tourism sites dito sa San Fernando na pwede nating i-maximize to get a market niche like mga families and friends na pumapasyal,” she added.

Pangilinan believes that these new industries will give more opportunities for San Fernando to establish itself as a destination for farm and food t our i sm.

CTO also aims to connect different tourismrelated industries for possible collaborations and tour packages that can be offered to local and international tourists as the city embarks on the “new normal.”

On October 29, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID lowered National Capital Region (NCR) restrictions to Alert Level 2 effective November 5 to 21, 2021 to provide greater mobility to the public, including kids and seniors.

While the national government had eased the travel restrictions, Pangilinan still urged the Fernandinos to follow the health protocols for a safe and healthy travel experience.

“The way to move forward to the better normal is really to still self-regulate, meaning know the risks that you are taking for you and your family if you decide to travel. And we hope na kahit nag ease na ng restrictions, people will be disciplined to follow the minimum public health standards,” Pangilinan said. With San Fernando being a pilot city for the devolution plan in 2022, CTO hopes to provide more support programs and projects to the tourism industry in the city as the LGU positions itself in the economic recovery.