Agritourism: Its Potentials in Davao Oriental

Jessie  V. Alzate,

Agritourism: Its Potentials in Davao Oriental

Abstract:

This study established baseline information about the potential agritourism sites in the five (5) selected areas in Davao Oriental. Forty (40) outstanding farmer awardees were interviewed and their farms were documented through still photos and small format video footages to establish the characteristics of their farms in terms of attractiveness, amenities, activities, and accessibility. Potential agritourism farms had an area of 5-10 hectares while others had either below 1 hectare to less than 5 hectares; accessible to all types of land transportation and can be reached with an average of 1-10 minutes. Attractive features include plains, coastal, rivers, and upland terrains planted mainly with coconuts and other agricultural crops and farmers raised live stocks and poultry. Activities in the farms were mostly educational tours among students and other farmers who want to learn agricultural technologies and organic-based farming practices. Farm owners mainly derived their income from agricultural production hence; economic benefit from agritourism was not evident. Amenities were limited; however, the sites were mostly provided with drinking water and restrooms. Word-of-mouth was the major means of promoting the potential agritourism sites, thus mass and social media remained untapped communication channels in for promoting agritourism sites.

References:

Barbieri C. Assessing the sustainability of agritourism in the US: a comparison between agritourism and other farm entrepreneurial ventures.] Sustain Tour [Online]. 2013; 21, (2):252-270. doi:10.1080/09669582.2012.685174.
Bianca VL. et. al. Status and prospects of agritourism in selected municipalities of the 4th District of Batangas. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research [Online]. 2014; 2 (4): 71.
Busby G, Rendle S. The transition from tourism on farms to farm tourism. Tourism Management Journal [Online]. 2000; 21 (6): 635-642. doi: 10.1016/S0261- 5177(00)00011-X
Carating R. Sustainable organic farming: the rise of agritourism in the Philippines http://spireresearch.com/wp-content(accessed February 3, 2014).
Congress of the Philippines. R.A. 10560, An Act Declaring the Province of Davao Oriental as a Tourism Development Area and Appropriating Funds Therefor. http://senate.gov.ph (accessed March 7, 2016). DAVAO
Department of Agriculture. Agri-tourism. Industry monitor. https://www.devbnkphl.com (Accessed May 5, 2016).
Department of Tourism. Tourism demand statistics 2018. http://www.tourism.gov.ph (Accessed October 5, 2018).
Gregmar I, Galinato S, Chouinard H, Taylor M, Wandschneider P. Agritourism in Washington state: an industry profile. http://www.pubs.wsu.edu (accessed May 4, 2015).
Jensen K, Linborg C, English B, Menard G. Visitors to Tennessee Agri-tourism Attractions. http://aimag.ag.utk.edu (accessed May 5, 2016).
Kuehn D, Hilchey D, Ververs D, Dunn KL. Considerations for agritourism development. http://uvm.edu (accessed May 2, 2016).
National Economic Development Authority, 2004. Davao Oriental. http://www.nr011.neda.gov.ph (accessed October 13, 2018).National Statistics Coordination Board-Philippine Statistics Authority. http://www.nap.psa.gov.ph (accessed October 13, 2018).
Ollenburg C, Buckley R. Stated economic and social motivations of farm tourism operators. J Travel Res [Online]. 2007; 45 (4):444-452. doi: 10.1177/0047287507299574.
Phillip A, Hunter C, Blackstock K. A typology for defining agritourism. Tourism Manage [Online]. 2009; 31 (10):754-58. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2009.08.001
Philippine Information Agency. Davao Oriental. https://www.pia.gov.ph (accessed October 13, 2018).Privitera D. The importance of organic agriculture in tourism rural. http://www.ageconsearch.umn.edu (accessed May 5, 2016).
Schilling B, Sullivan KP. Characteristics of New Jersey agritourism. Farms Journal of Food Distribution Research [Online]. 2014; 45 (2): 161-73.
Spire Research. The rise ofagri-tourism in the Philippines. https://www.spireresearch.com/spire-journal/yr2013/q3/the-rise-of-agri-tourism-in-the-philippines/ (accessed May 3, 2016).
Tacio, H. Tourism: at its best. http://blog.agriculture.ph. (Accessed October 11, 2018).
Tuzon TP, Hilao LJA, Marana IRD, Villalobos KN, Garcia E, Medallon MC. Transformation to eco Agri-tourism: the case of Casile, Cabuyao City, Laguna, Philippines. EDP Sciences [Online]. 2014; 12 (2):1—8.
United Nation Education Scientific Children Organization. Mount Hamiguitan Range Wild Life Sanctuary. http://whc.unesco.org (accessed October 18, 2018).