The Women Engineers Network of the Philippines is looking to boost tourism in the country by building farms and infrastructure similar to those in New Zealand.
In a statement from the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, or BAFE, the engineers' group on Monday said they are considering improving New Zealand's Hobbiton, the famous village set for the mythical Hobbits in the film "The Lord of the Rings."
Hobbiton is a 1,250-acre wide sheep farm on Waikato Island.
According to the Department of Tourism, there are at least 100 farm-tourism sites in the country. The government plans to add more of this kind of attractions in support of the Republic Act 10816, or the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016 signed by former President Benigno Aquino III.
Hobbiton to be replicated
The group is proposing to build a local version of Waitomo Cave which offers tourists a light spectacle naturally created from glow worms, and of Sky Tower which features a restaurant and a viewing deck overlooking Auckland City and Tāmaki Makaurau's volcanoes 186 meters above ground.
The engineers said these foreign-inspired tourism ideas emerged from their participation in the Nineteenth International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists in Auckland's Aotea Centre from 3 to 6 September.
"The conference themed 'Shaping the Future' was a fantastic opportunity to engage with peers in science and engineering, and to enable us to share expertise while exploring important places and structures in New Zealand," Dr. Juana T. Tapel, head of the seven-member Philippine delegation to the conference, said.
During this event, the Philippines was also announced as the host of the next conference in 2026. "It will be the first time that the Philippines will host the global gathering of women engineers and scientists," BAFE said.
The International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists is the flagship event of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists, a partner of the United Nations.
More than 200 women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics attend the conference every four years.
