Bacolod City’s thriving farm and food tourism industry is set to take center stage as it prepares to host the 10th International Farm Tourism Conference Philippines (IFTC-P) in 2027.
The hosting preparations was discussed during a courtesy call by International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) President Mina Gabor, former Secretary of the Department of Tourism, with Secretary to the Mayor Jose Marty Go, who represented Mayor Greg Gasataya, on Thursday a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said Friday, August 7.
Go conveyed Gasataya’s optimism that the conference will provide an excellent platform to showcase not only Bacolod City’s tourism destinations but also its agricultural products, culinary offerings, sustainable farming initiatives, and the rich farm tourism experiences of Negros and neighboring areas.
The conference is expected to bring together farmers, farm owners, tourism practitioners, government officials, educators, investors, and international delegates to exchange ideas and promote sustainable tourism and agriculture.
Gabor welcomed Bacolod’s proposed hosting of the milestone event, citing the city’s continued growth and the dynamic development taking place across Negros.
“We are very happy that the 10th anniversary will be hosted by Bacolod. A lot of development has been happening in Bacolod and the provinces. It seems like everybody is on the go with different businesses,” Gabor said.
The conference will feature a main forum and an exhibition showcasing agricultural produce, food products, local innovations, handicrafts, and other products from Bacolod, Negros Island, and participating regions across the country.
Among the proposed themes are organic agriculture, food, and wellness. Gabor noted Bacolod’s reputation as a center for organic agriculture and its growing slow food movement as key strengths that can be highlighted during the event.
“The ISST is also looking at incorporating wellness and traditional healing practices such as hilot into the farm tourism program, including the possibility of promoting wellness activities in farm destinations,” Gabor added.
The International Farm Tourism Conference has previously been hosted by Bohol, General Santos City, and Baguio City. Its 9th edition, held in Baguio City in March 2026, gathered around 500 farm tourism stakeholders from the Philippines and abroad.
The 10th conference is tentatively scheduled either on February 17–19 or February 22–24, 2027, with the final dates yet to be confirmed.
With participants expected from across the Philippines, the Asia-Pacific region, the United States, and Canada, the Bacolod City Government sees the conference as an opportunity to strengthen tourism partnerships, promote local enterprises, and further position Bacolod and Negros as premier destinations for sustainable, experiential, and farm tourism, the press release said.*
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