9th International Farm Tourism Conference in Baguio Boosts Farm Tourism

The nation’s increasing farm tourism sector obtained a big increase when greater than 300 stakeholders and policymakers gathered in Baguio Metropolis for the ninth Worldwide Farm Tourism Convention.

Organized by the Worldwide College of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) and co-presented by the Division of Tourism (DOT) and the Metropolis Authorities of Baguio, the convention additionally launched the Farm Tourism Strategic Motion Plan (FTSAP) 2026–2031, which DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco highlighted in her keynote speech.

“Gastronomy begins with our farms, our fisheries, and the communities that produce the meals that defines our nationwide desk. Farm tourism reinforces this pillar by strengthening agricultural provide chains, enabling direct sourcing, and making certain that rural communities are embedded inside the tourism worth chain,” the tourism chief mentioned.

Created in collaboration with the Division of Agriculture and the Division of Commerce and Business, the plan goals to boost requirements, infrastructure, enterprise improvement, and market integration for farm tourism websites nationwide.

Frasco talked about that the DOT, through the FTSAP nationwide roadmap, intends to extend the worth of farm tourism to US$197 billion by 2032.

The plan talked about is derived from Republic Act No. 10816, often called the Farm Tourism Improvement Act of 2016, authored by former Senator Cynthia Villar.

She famous that, in accordance with World Journey and Tourism Council information, journey and tourism added US$91.8 billion to the Philippine economic system in 2025, accounting for practically 20 p.c of GDP and supporting over 11 million jobs.

In the meantime, Baguio Metropolis Mayor Benjamin Magalong acknowledged that farm tourism can function a helpful instrument for strengthening upland communities’ resilience and including extra points of interest to the Cordilleras, highlighting the robust hyperlink between agriculture and tradition.

Moreover, Philexport president and CEO Sergio Ortiz-Luis acknowledged that the nation’s farm tourism business was valued at US$1.6 billion in 2025. This demonstrates that it isn’t merely a distinct segment market but in addition a big driver of rural improvement and exports.

He famous that, based mostly on statistics from the Philippine Exporter’s Confederation, the archipelago has roughly 138 farms accredited by the DOT, representing a possible supply of export items.

The three-day convention featured panel discussions on highland espresso innovation, traditions and know-how, the six pillars of sustainable farm tourism, digitalization and synthetic intelligence, and the preservation of pure and cultural heritage.

Extra scientific and technical contributions lined sustainable meals methods, model storytelling and advertising, local weather adaptation, resilient group constructing, and upland freshwater applied sciences.

A key spotlight of the convention was the fifth Asian Farm Tourism Awards (AFTA) Night time, the place distinctive native and Asian entrepreneurs had been acknowledged for his or her revolutionary initiatives.

Charinee Chaiyochlarb of Mini Murrah Farm in Thailand and Raymond Aaron of Villa Socorro Farm from Pagsanjan, Laguna, had been awarded Greatest Farm Tourism Enterprise.

Agus Wibowo from Indonesia’s PT-Agro-Lestari-Merbabu was awarded Excellent Youth Entrepreneur. In the meantime, Tariq Tanveer, CEO of Agri Tourism Improvement Corp. of Pakistan, and Fang Tzu Wei, chairman of The Morning Market in Taiwan, obtained the Excellent Farm Tourism Advocate award.

The three-day occasion concluded with guided excursions to distinguished farm tourism places within the close by cities of La Trinidad, Tuba, and Atok in Benguet.

The convention is sponsored by the Tourism Promotions Board, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Philexport, Philippine Retirement Authority, Division of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Sources, Division of the Inside and Native Authorities, and Division of Commerce and Business, with Philippine Airways serving because the official service.

ISST held its inaugural Farm Tourism Convention in 2014 in Daet, Camarines Norte, and since then, it has traveled to main cities nationwide together with Tagaytay, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, and Common Santos. The following version is scheduled to be hosted by Bacolod Metropolis.

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