BUGUIAS, Benguet – Barangay Natubleng in the municipality of Buguias is one of the emerging tourist spot in Benguet possessing potential for agritourism.
Farrah Jane V. Tongol, a graduate of Benguet State University, in her study titled “Bridging the urban youth and Benguet farming community through agritourism,” found out that a comprehensive follow-up research and effective marketing strategies should be implemented for the development of agritourism industry in Natubleng.
According to Teresita Crisostomo, former barangay kagawad, the barangay officials and some residents are becoming aware of the potential of Natubleng as an agritourism site.
Apart from its panoramic view, the barangay offers opportunities for visitors to experience planting and harvesting carrots and other semi-temperate crops like strawberries and cut flowers.
The place also takes pride of its Apo Anno Cave, a heritage cave as it houses one of the acclaimed oldest mummies in Benguet.
However, there is no existing marketing strategy designed for promoting agritourism in the barangay.
In response to this, the researcher emphasizes that one big market for agritourism is the students in elite schools who generally do not have opportunities to visit farming communities.
Two promotional materials, a video and a brochure that features the agritourism activities in the place with packaged tour that includes other tourist sites were developed and then shown to students of the University of Sto. Tomas, Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila and University of the Philippines-Diliman.
There was a positive acceptance of the packaged agri-tours by the students in Manila thus the researcher recommended that the agritourism industry in Natubleng be developed not only to augment the community’s income but also to promote acceptance and cultural understanding among the urban youth and farming communities.
By Kimverly V. Diwas