Ipinupursige ng House of Representatives na maipasa ang isang panukala na magsusulong ng farm tourism sa bansa upang mahikayat kapwa ang mga lokal at banyagang turista.
Nagpahayag si AAMBIS-Owa Representative Sharon Garin, mayakda ng House Bill 3745, ng pag-asa na maipapasa ang kanyang panukala sa 16th Congress.
“Milking cows, fruit-picking, harvesting vegetables, fishing, horseback riding, watching butterflies, tending bees, tasting wines or juices, and sight-seeing are just some of the exciting recreational and educational activities tourists can do in a farm tourist spots,” aniya sa pagsusulong na maipasa ang HB 3745 o ang Farm Tourism Act.
Binigyang diin niya na “farms can be viable tourism destinations.”
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Itinatakda ng panukalang batas ang paglilikha ng isang Philippine Farm Tourism Industry Development Coordinating Council na titiyak sa pag-unlad at paglago ng farm tourism sa bansa. Ang Council ay isasailim sa Department of Tourism (DoT).
“The fusion of tourism and agriculture will benefit both sectors as it will boost the country’s economy by improving the income and potential economic viability of small farms and rural communities,” ani Garin.
Binigyang diin niya na ang farm tourism ay isang nang lumalagong industriya sa maraming bahagi ng bansa at ang bawat bansa ay mayroong natatanging selling points.
“An example is the sweet potato-based, tea-based, and pomelo-based farm tourism industry in Taiwan. Malaysians have coconut-based farms for tourists. In Indonesia, orange-picking tours are well-known. In Japan, rice-based farm tours are renowned,” lahad niya.
