Farm tourism meet set in Cebu
The Queen City of the South takes center stage once more as the country’s leading farm tourism practitioners and stakeholders gather for the 6th Farm Tourism Conference set at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, Cebu City on Nov. 6-8.
Themed “Building Community Relationship for Sustainable Development of Farm Tourism,” the event is hosted by the city government of Cebu, co-organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) and the Cebu Alliance of Tour Operations Specialist, with the support of the Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry.
To deliver keynote messages are former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DA Secretary William Dar and Sen. Cynthia Villar, author of the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016.
According to ISST president and event director Mina Gabor, the conference will focus on the fusion of farming and tourism that empowers local communities, provide diversified income for farmers and encourage sustainable practices for food security.
“Farm tourism encourages economic activity to provide farm and community income. It is one of the country’s sunshine industries which can be developed because of the agricultural nature of the economy,” she said.
The conference will emphasize the vital role of strengthening communities in initiating and sustaining farm tourism efforts.
Resource persons include ASEAN Center for Biodiversity executive director Theresa Mundita Lim, architecture Paolo Alcazaren, Augustus Caesar Esmeralda, Gil Saguiguit Jr., Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Down To Earth Farm Shop and Café’s Nicolo Aberasturi and BFAR director Eduardo Gongona.
Meanwhile, Bolo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association vice president Jomelyn Delos Reyes and Cebu Pacific director for corporate communications Charo Lagamon will talk on the importance of public-private partnerships.
Success stories in Asia will be shared by India’s Agri Tourism Development Company managing director Pandurang Taware and Charinee Chaiyochlarb of Mini Murrah Farm in Thailand.
The Lakbay Bukid Award or Farm Tourism Award will be given to the country’s foremost farm tourism pioneers, practitioners, institutions and groups who have contributed significantly to the development of the industry. Now on its third year, the award has been opened to Asian farm tourism establishments, the first of its kind in the continent.
The three-day event will also feature an exhibition area for fresh and locally-grown agricultural produce and site visits to the leading farm tourism spots, namely Sirao Flower Farm, Jaime Chua’s Orchid Farm and Adlawon Vacation Farm.