GUIMARAS – This province will hold its first dragon fruit festival – the first of its kind in Western Visayas – from Sept. 29 to 30, 2022.
This Guimaras Dragon Fruit Fest, which is in line with the celebration of National Tourism Month, will be held at the provincial capitol grounds in Barangay San Miguel, Jordan town.
According to Gov. JC Rahman Nava, the festival aims to contribute to the recovery of the province’s economy which is still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Nava seeks economic recovery for Guimaras anchored on agri-fishery and agri-eco tourism.
The Dragon Fruit Fest is expected to generate trade, create jobs and present investment opportunities.
While it is expected to enhance the promotion of Guimaras’ tourism industry, the festival is also anticipated to boost revenue at the local level.
The Dragon Fruit Fest, to be held in partnership with Agri-Tourism, Farmers, Owners, and Operators Association (GATFOOA), also aims to increase public awareness on the dragon fruit, which may help increase the income of local growers, as well as encourage farming and consumption of the dragon fruit.
The two-day festivities will also feature a bike caravan, job fair, and a trade fair which will showcase dragon fruit products.
There will be a demonstration of dragon fruit cuisine and dragon-fruit based products through the “Dragon Fruit Kitchen” featuring Kulinarya chefs from the Department of Tourism.
A “Dragon Fruit classroom” will then provide guests with information on the dragon fruit value chain./PN
