Negros eyed to become agri-tourism destination

A seminar-workshop on the Sustainable Tourism Framework for Negros Island was held at the Governor's Hall, Capitol Building, in Bacolod City yesterday, with Susan Cardenas, marketing consultant for sustainable tourism, as resource person.Cardenas, who also works with Inkaterra-Japan, said organic farming is an advantage to Negros in making the island a sustainable agri-tourism site.

The difference between mainstream tourism and sustainable tourism is that it does not care about the environment, that sustainable tourism preserves and conserves nature and applies eco-friendly practices, she said.She said sustainable agri-tourism is profitable, economic, and gainful not only to the operators and farm owners but also empowers local community and provides them livelihood.

Cardenas said that if sustainable agri-tourism destinations in Negros are ready, she will bring it to the international market to put back Negros in the map of tourism sites in the Philippine and introduce it to the Asia Pacific Region.

Meanwhile, Ramon Uy Jr., owner of FreshStart Organic and a director of Organic na Negros! Organic Producers and Retailers Association, said the tourism aspect of the organic farms in Negros will complement the livelihood and investment opportunities of local farmers.

He said the province is serious in making the island the organic capital of Asia, and the proofs are the banning of genetically modified organism products, existing ordinances and laws on organic products, and the establishment of the organic certifying body.

Source = visayandailystar