SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF AGRITOURISM AS PERCEIVED BY THE FARMERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN MIGUEL, BULACAN
The concept of Agritourism has been increasingly embraced as a viable and sustainable form of tourism, which has the potential to generate supplementary revenue for farmers and rural communities. Therefore, it possesses the capacity to facilitate socio-economic progress and augment the standard of living of farmers, communities, and other stakeholders. This study explored and examined the socio-economic benefits of agritourism as perceived by farmers in the Municipality of San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines in terms of creating tourism activities, promoting local and heirloom cuisine, creating employment opportunities, protecting cultural traditions, and expanding local markets. The research employed a quantitative-descriptive methodology to establish relevant and valuable research goals. This research study was conducted in the municipality of San Miguel, Bulacan The selection of participants is being carried out utilizing non-probability sampling methods, specifically employing a stratified- purposive sampling approach. The study comprised of 25 participants (farmers of San Miguel, Bulacan), In order to guarantee the credibility of this research, ethical protocols and procedures were adhered to. A formal request was obtained by researchers from the Municipal Tourism and Agriculture Office of San Miguel, Bulacan, through the Office of the Mayor. After collecting the data, the data sets were analyzed using the following statistical methods: percentage and frequency distribution, weighted mean, ranking, Likert scale, analysis of variance, and post-hoc analysis. Results showed that, creation and management of tourism activities require expertise in areas such as tourism, marketing, customer service, agriculture, and rural development. These benefits support the sustainability and prosperity of both the tourism and agriculture sectors.
Keywords: Agritourism, Socio-cultural, Sustainable, Creating Tourism Activities, Promoting Local and Heirloom Cuisine, Creating Employment Opportunities, Protecting Cultural Traditions, Expanding Local Markets.
