Invited to shed light on their successful agri-tourism programs are speakers from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and Taiwan who will dwell on their country experience in tea farming and bamboo propagation, respectively, as a source of livelihood opportunities for local farmers and key players in the agri-tourism sector.
The International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) led by its president Dr. Mina T. Gabor will conduct the 1st Farm Camps / Farm Tourism Conference on May 22-25, 2013 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, Subic Bay Freeport. The theme for the conference is “Sustainable Farm Entrepreneurship through Tourism”.
The conference is meant to equip farm-bound stakeholders and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and expertise in enhancing the quality of experience in their farmlands thru tourism and travel, discovering livelihood opportunities in farm tourism, best practices and success stories in Philippine Farm Tourism. At least two model countries including provincial models in the country will provide inputs on how they were able to improve the living conditions of their farmers and farm owners using tourism as their benchmark.
Invited to shed light on their successful agri-tourism programs are speakers from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and Taiwan who will dwell on their country experience in tea farming and bamboo propagation, respectively, as a source of livelihood opportunities for local farmers and key players in the agri-tourism sector. Likewise, success stories experienced in different parts of the country will be discussed to include, among others, Bacolod (Nature Farm by Dr. Albert Jo), Ilocos Norte (REFMAD Farms by Editha Dacuycuy), Laguna (diversified faming in Costales Nature Farms by Ronald Costales), Duran Farms by Desiree Duran, fruit trees by Zacarias Sarian, and Negros Occidental (Agritecture by Ramon Penalosa).
Other interesting topics include: guidelines for farm tourism accreditation, merchandise development and branding, and financing farm camps. Prior to the conference on May 22, participants will be treated to visits to various model farms in Zambales to be hosted by Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.
Keynote speaker is Hon. Proceso Alcala of the Department of Agriculture. Also invited to grace the occasion is Senator Francis Pangilinan, including Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz of DOT and Chairman Roberto Garcia of SBMA.
Conference is open to stakeholders and major players in the agri-tourism community, tourism planners and professionals, government personnel involved in new product development, members of the academe, including students and would-be entrepreneurs.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
