The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is quite hopeful on the possibility of farm tourism to enhance the income of smallholder farmers and conserve the environment, which are the best reasons for the agency to aid numerous efforts to make farms tourist attractions as well.
Last July 17-19th, SEARCA supported the staging of the first-ever Global Farm Tourism Summit in Tagaytay City that was managed by the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), led by Mina Gabor, and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Also, the summit was endorsed by the Tourism Promotions Board, Provincial Government of Cavite, International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), Automobile Association of the Philippines, and the departments of Department of Interior and Local Government, Agriculture, and Trade and Industry.
"Farm tourism opens up possibilities for diversification of income for small-scale farmers while promoting good farming practices, sustainable agriculture systems, and community involvement," SEARCA Director Gil Saguiguit Jr. said.
At present, a worldwide trend, farm tourism is all set to develop new livelihoods for farm families and contributes to the rural economy.
From local and international experts, the summit shared best practices and success stories and grew awareness on the profits of adding a tourism component to farms.
As in any enterprise, SEARCA explained that sustainability is the main component as the summit simultaneously highlighted the role of farm tourism in attaining the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.