The 1st International Agriculture & Tourism Expo to be Held This June and July

Let's support agri-tourism in the Philippines!

Press Release:

A GRAND exposition in agriculture and tourism is set to unfold on June 30 to July 2, 2011 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Dubbed the 1st International Agriculture & Tourism Expo (IATE), the three-day event hopes to draw some 20,000 local visitors and 1,000 foreign visitors. It will also gather some 400 product exhibitors.

The Agri-Tourism Expo will showcase the state of the country’s agriculture and tourism industries and where they are going through a series of awareness campaigns, learning seminars, product exhibits and cultural performances.

The Expo intends to promote Philippine agri-tourism programs of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Tourism to the international and local markets. Among the Expo’s objectives is to support the government’s efforts at generating sustainable economic growth and development through agriculture and tourism. At the same time, the Expo hopes to attract more tourists and investors to the country so that it will create employment and income opportunities to Filipinos.

Kenneth Dong, president of A-Linx Events International Inc., an events management company which organized the Expo, cited the amazing growth of travel and tourism industry worldwide, a phenomenon that will also boost tourism in the Philippines. “People all over the world continue to seek new attractions and greater adventures,” Dong said, adding that this growing demand saw the emergence of “agri-tourism.”

Agri-tourism, a combination of the words agriculture and tourism, Dong said, refers to travel to rural farm area for leisure, education, or active involvement in agricultural activities. He adds that agri-tourism has been gaining global popularity even as it offers new and exciting experience to tourists with a wide-range of activities, including tending to farm animals, planting, harvesting and processing of farm products.

According to Dong, as an agricultural country with abundant, untapped natural resources, the Philippines has all the potential to be a world-class agri-tourism destination. “Paired with a hospitable and dynamic culture that is uniquely Filipino, agri-tourism shows promise of becoming a major factor in strengthening the economy and promoting agriculture and tourism industries."

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Tourism have given their support to the Expo. Several big organizations and businesses also gave their endorsements. Among them were the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, National Federation of Hog Farmers,Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Phils.), Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Technology Resource Center, the Department of Agriculture’s attached agencies, Local Government Units, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Philippine Travel Agencies Association, the Universal Robina Corporation, Foremost Farms Inc., Pfizer, Philippine Planters Products and Univet Nutrition & Animal Healthcare Co.

Attached agencies of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Agriculture are also lending their support. Among them are the Bureau of Agricultural Research, Philippine Agricultural Development & Commercial Corporation, Bureau of Animal Industry, Livestock Development Council, National Dairy Authority, Philippine Carabao Center, National Meat Inspection Service, Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development & Mechanizations, Philippine Agrarian Reform Foundation National Development, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Philippine Crop & Insurance Co. and the Bureau of Soils & Water Management.

Key senators have also endorsed the Expo. among them were Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, chairman of Agriculture Committee; Senator Manuel Lapid, chairman of Tourism Committee; Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of Cooperatives Committee; Sen. Loren Legarda, chairman of Foreign Affairs; Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman on Education Committee; and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chairman of Local Governments Committee.