Farm tourism entrepreneurs feted at international confab

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MANILA, Philippines — Five Asian farm tourism entrepreneurs were recently honored by the International School of Sustainable Tourism in the Asia’s Farm Tourism Awards (AFTA) in recognition of their trailblazing initiatives in promoting sustainable agriculture-based tourism.

Given at the 9th International Farm Tourism Conference held recently in Baguio City, AFTA evolved from ISST’s pioneering “Lakbay Bukid” (Farm Travel) Awards in 2016 which honors outstanding local farmer-enterprisers.

The biennial award has since expanded its coverage to recognize the growth and diversification of the agritourism sector across the continent.

Awarded Best Farm Tourism Enterprises were Mini Murrah Farm in Bangkok, Thailand, the country’s first and only dairy buffalo farm, and banana chips exporter Villa Socorro Farm from Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Named Outstanding Youth Entrepreneur was Agus Wibowo, director and founder of PT-Agro-Lestari-Merbabu from Central Java, Indonesia, to highlight the vital role of young people in food security.

Tariq Tanveer, chief executive officer or Agri Tourism Development Corp. from Faisalabad, Pakistan and Fang Tzu Wei, chairman of The Morning Market of Taipei, Taiwan were accorded the Outstanding Farm Tourism Advocate award.

According to ISST president Mina Gabor who conceptualized the AFTA, the Award underscores the huge opportunity of farm tourism and the income potential for farmer entrepreneurs in rural and upland areas, both here and abroad.

She noted that the country’s farm tourism industry was valued at $1.6 billion in 2025 which proves that it is not just a niche market, but also a major growth engine for rural development and export.

The conference is supported by the Department of Tourism, Philippine Exporter’s Confederation, Tourism Promotions Board, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Philippine Retirement Authority, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry, with Philippine Airlines as official carrier.