Agritourism blooms in Nueva Vizcaya DoT cultivates new opportunities for farmers

Harvesting Opportunities The Rise of Agritourism in Nueva Vizcaya

The highlands of Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya are abuzz with a new kind of harvest, one that combines agriculture with immersive travel experiences. The Department of Tourism (DoT) in Cagayan Valley recently conducted a three-day training program to help local farm owners, workers, and operators transform their working lands into agritourism destinations.

From January 13 to 15, 2026, the DoT hosted the Fun Farms Orientation Planting the Seeds of Agritourism and Farmsthetics Training in Kayapa. The program aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills to integrate tourism into agricultural enterprises while maintaining sustainability and productivity.

The training responded to the growing demand for authentic and immersive travel experiences, highlighting the concept of farmsthetics, which focuses on enhancing the visual appeal, visitor readiness, and overall quality of farm sites. Participants learned how simple design improvements, proper site management, and adherence to tourism standards can transform working farms into attractive and market-ready agritourism destinations without compromising their core agricultural functions.

The training covered topics such as landscape design, visitor experience planning, safety and sanitation standards, and marketing strategies for agritourism. Resource speakers Kenneth De Gracia and Michael Caballes shared their expertise in agritourism development and farm design, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in agritourism Visitors want to connect with the land, the people, and the food. Farmers can create memorable experiences by sharing their stories, their practices, and their passion for agriculture.

For many participants, the training was an eye-opener. Maria Santos, a vegetable farmer from Kayapa, noted, I never thought my farm could be a place for tourists. Now I see how I can add a small café, a walking trail, and a place for visitors to learn how we grow our crops. This could help my family earn more income.

Local government officials in Kayapa welcomed the DoT's initiative, recognizing the potential of agritourism to boost the local economy and create new opportunities for young people in the area. We are excited to see our farmers become tourism ambassadors, said a municipal official. This is a win-win for agriculture and tourism.

The program aligns with the national government's push to promote agritourism as a key driver of rural development and poverty alleviation. As DoT-2 Director Troy Alexander Miano emphasized, The initiative is part of our broader strategy to promote inclusive and sustainable tourism development in the Cagayan Valley region. By enhancing farm-based livelihoods, we aim to position Nueva Vizcaya as a promising agritourism destination in the Philippines.

In conclusion, the rise of agritourism in Nueva Vizcaya is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. As the DoT continues to support sustainable tourism development that uplifts local communities and enhances farm-based livelihoods, the future looks bright for this promising sector.

Keywords Agritourism, Nueva Vizcaya, Department of Tourism, Fun Farms Orientation, Farmsthetics, Sustainable Tourism Development, Rural Economy.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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