Inbound visitors to the Philippines spend 17.1 percent of their budget on food and beverage services, underscoring the vital role of agriculture in the nation’s tourism expansion, the Department of Tourism said.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, speaking at the 9th International Farm Tourism Conference, said the subsector reinforces gastronomy as an emerging pillar of the Philippine economy. She said the integration of farms and fisheries into the travel industry strengthens supply chains and embeds rural communities within the tourism value chain.
“Gastronomy begins with our farms, our fisheries, and the communities that produce the food that defines our national table. Farm tourism connects agriculture, food, and travel. It strengthens supply chains, enables direct sourcing, and embeds rural communities within the tourism value chain,” Frasco said.
The conference, organized by the International School of Sustainable Tourism under President Mina Gabor, marks the launch of the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan 2026–2031. The multi-agency roadmap involving the tourism, agriculture, and trade departments aims to modernize infrastructure and market integration nationwide.
