Leading advocates and champions of Asia’s growing farm tourism industry were given the prestigious Lakbay Bukid Awards in the recently-concluded 7th Farm Tourism Conference organized by International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) in Panglao, Bohol.
With a US$ 1,000 cash prize from the family of the late tourism stalwart Bobby Joseph, the award was first given in 2016 to individuals, institutions and groups who have contributed significantly to the growth of the farm tourism industry in the continent.
This year’s awardees are Francis Joseph Perdigon of Perdigon Farms in Butuan City, I Wayan Alit Artha Wiguna of Cau Chocolates in Bali, Indonesia; Tan Inong Asin Tibuok Manufacturing of Alburquerque, Bohol; Borneo Eco Tours of Sabah, Malaysia, and Malagos Agri-Ventures Corp. of Davao City.
According to ISST president Mina Gabor, the accolade showcases the creativity and resiliency of the awardees in helping empower disadvantaged communities and mainstreaming sustainable agricultural and tourism practices.
In photo are SEARCA center director Glenn Gregorio, Francis Joseph Perdigon, I Wayan Alit Artha Wiguna, Tan Inong manager Veronica Salupan, Borneo Eco Tours managing director Albert Teo Chin Kion, Malagos Agri-Ventures Corp. managing director Rex Puentespina, ISST president Mina Gabor and trustee Ida Rosario Joseph.
The Farm Tourism Conference is hosted by the Province of Bohol and supported by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport). It is also backed by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the Department of Tourism, the Tourism Promotions Board, the Department of Trade and Industry, and Philippine Airlines.