FARM owners who wish to enlist their agricultural lands as tourist sites must be accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to avail incentives and benefits, a DOT official said.
Judy Colaljo, DOT-Davao chief tourism officer, underscored the importance of registration of farm tourist sites in Davao Region in order to help promote these sites.
“Among the incentives and benefits of DOT accreditation is the endorsement to local and foreign tour operators for inclusion in their tour packages,” Colaljo said on Wednesday, October 17, during the Regional Farm Tourism Convergence 2018 at Davao Convention Center.
Colaljo added the farm sites will also be part of DOT’s official list on its website.
Farm site owners will also be given a subsidy on human resource development like trainings on catering and bartending services, tour guiding, front office management, housekeeping, and effective customer relations seminar, among other courses.
The sites will also participate in DOT’s overseas sales missions and inclusion in DOT’s Tourism Promotions Board (TBP).
Colaljo also said there would also be free online and print advertising in national and local newspapers.
With DOT’s accreditation, Colaljo added, these farm sites can also be endorsed to embassies and travel trade associations for utilization of its establishment’s facilities and services.
The following documents must be secured first by farm business owners: valid mayor’s permit or municipal license from LGU, Security and Exchange Commission registration certificate of Articles of Incorporation, Department of Trade Industry business name registration certificate, valid visa from Bureau of Immigration, and employment permit from Department of Labor and Employment for foreign nationals.