THE national government has launched a six-year plan to turn farm tourism into a major driver of rural growth. The strategy aims to link tourism demand directly with farm production and local businesses to create stable income for farmers.
On Feb. 16, 2026, the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with private members of the Farm Tourism Development Board, launched the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan (FTSAP) 2026–2031.
The plan seeks to position the Philippines as a top destination for farm and gastronomy tourism in Asia. It also aims to provide steady income for Filipino farmers by connecting them directly to tourism markets.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the launch. They described the FTSAP as the operational expansion of the country’s farm tourism framework under Republic Act No. 10816.
From policy to full implementation
The roadmap moves farm tourism from planning to full implementation. It strengthens accreditation systems for farm tourism sites and integrates these sites into organized tourism circuits.
The plan also aligns infrastructure, enterprise development, and market access. Officials said the goal is to make sure tourism demand leads to long-term income, jobs, and livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
To support this effort, the DOT and DA signed a memorandum of agreement on farm, food, and gastronomy tourism. The agreement formalizes coordination across farm production, supply chains, and tourism establishments.
The partnership encourages hotels and restaurants to source produce directly from Filipino farmers and rural enterprises. Officials said this will help create stable and steady demand for local products.
Strong global growth potential
Officials highlighted the sector’s growth potential. They cited projections showing agritourism could grow from $69 billion in 2019 to about $197 billion by 2032.
By integrating agriculture into higher-value tourism experiences, the government expects to attract more rural investments, create jobs, and expand economic activity beyond basic farming.
The plan also supports coordinated infrastructure projects. These include farm-to-market roads that align with tourism circuits to improve market access and logistics efficiency.
Oversight and current status
A Joint Technical Working Group will oversee the implementation of the plan. The group includes representatives from the DOT, DA, DTI, and private stakeholders to ensure programs are carried out nationwide.
As of February 2026, the DOT has accredited 138 farm tourism sites across the country. Officials said this shows the sector’s growing role in diversifying tourism offerings and strengthening local economies.
Officials added that the FTSAP aligns the Philippines with the global shift toward value-driven and sustainable tourism. They said the roadmap will help rural communities capture higher tourism spending while making agriculture a stronger part of the country’s service economy. / KOCTHE National Government has rolled out a six-year roadmap aimed at transforming farm tourism into a key growth engine for rural economies, linking tourism demand directly with agricultural production and enterprise development.
On Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with private sector members of the Farm Tourism Development Board, launched the Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan (FTSAP) 2026–2031. The plan seeks to position the Philippines as a leading destination for farm and gastronomy tourism in Asia while creating stable income streams for Filipino farmers.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the launch, describing the FTSAP as the operational expansion of the country’s farm tourism framework under Republic Act 10816, or the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016.
The roadmap shifts farm tourism from a policy framework to full-scale execution by strengthening accreditation systems, integrating farm sites into structured tourism circuits and aligning infrastructure, enterprise development and market access. A key focus is ensuring that tourism demand translates into sustained income, employment and long-term livelihood opportunities in rural communities.
Complementing the roadmap, the DOT and DA signed a memorandum of agreement on farm, food and gastronomy tourism to institutionalize coordination across production, supply chains and tourism establishments. The partnership aims to create stable institutional demand for local produce by encouraging hotels and restaurants to source directly from Filipino farmers and rural enterprises.
Officials underscored the sector’s growth potential, citing global projections that agritourism could expand from US$69 billion in 2019 to around $197 billion by 2032. By integrating agriculture into higher-value tourism experiences, the government expects to stimulate rural investments, generate employment and expand economic activity beyond primary production.
The convergence also supports coordinated infrastructure development, including farm-to-market roads aligned with tourism circuits, to improve market access and logistics efficiency.
Implementation will be overseen by a joint technical working group composed of representatives from the DOT, DA, DTI and private stakeholders to ensure sustained execution of programs nationwide.
As of February 2026, the DOT has accredited 138 farm tourism sites across the country, reflecting the sector’s growing role in diversifying tourism products and strengthening countryside economies.
Officials said the FTSAP aligns the Philippines with the global shift toward value-driven and sustainable tourism, positioning rural communities to capture higher tourism spending while embedding agriculture more deeply into the broader service economy. / KOC