The Department of Tourism, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Trade and Industry have rolled out a unified national strategy aimed at turning Philippine farms into engines of tourism-led rural growth, with the launch of the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan 2026–2031 on February 16.
Led by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the roadmap elevates farm tourism from a policy concept into an operational national program that directly links tourism demand with agricultural production, rural enterprises, and community livelihoods.
The plan is designed to position the Philippines as a leading farm and gastronomy tourism destination in Asia while delivering sustained income and employment opportunities in the countryside.
Anchored on the Farm Tourism Act of 2016, the strategy strengthens accreditation systems, integrates farm tourism sites into structured tourism circuits, and aligns infrastructure, enterprise development, and market access.
By directly connecting farmers, cooperatives, and rural producers with hotels, restaurants, and tour operators, the roadmap seeks to ensure that visitor spending translates into long-term economic gains at the grassroots level rather than one-off experiences.
Reinforcing the plan, the DOT and DA signed a memorandum of agreement on farm, food, and gastronomy tourism, formalizing closer coordination across agriculture, tourism, and trade.
The agreement expands collaboration on supply chains, infrastructure planning, and enterprise development, with the aim of creating stable and predictable demand for local produce while promoting Filipino cuisine and agricultural heritage to both domestic and international visitors.
Frasco said tighter integration between tourism and agriculture allows farmers to participate directly in higher-value tourism activities, citing strong global growth in agritourism and rising demand for food- and culture-driven travel. She noted that when culinary and farm experiences are intentionally linked to local producers, tourism becomes a direct driver of rural development rather than a parallel industry.
Tiu Laurel stressed that the initiative goes beyond simply opening farms to visitors, describing it as a shift toward building institutional demand for Filipino produce. By encouraging hotels and restaurants to consistently source locally, he said the partnership supports value-adding, strengthens supply chains, and stimulates rural investment and job creation beyond primary production.
Implementation of the roadmap will be overseen by a joint technical working group composed of the DOT, DA, DTI, and private sector stakeholders, tasked with coordinating programs, aligning work plans, and ensuring sustained execution nationwide. The DOT said it will continue to support the sector through accreditation, capacity building, and targeted promotion, noting that 138 farm tourism sites have already been accredited nationwide as of February 2026.
The launch was capped by a high-level meeting of the Farm Tourism Development Board, which strengthened governance mechanisms, designated alternate representatives, and expanded private sector participation to support long-term coordination.
Frasco said the convergence creates structured access to markets, training, certification, and sustained demand for small rural enterprises—from family farms and cooperatives to community-led harvest experiences—while aligning the countryside with the global shift toward value-driven tourism. She added that the roadmap signals the Philippines’ intent to compete in this space through coordinated public policy and responsible private sector partnership, with rural communities at the center of growth.