A bird view of Tan Hoa village, one of the Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism in 2023 (Photo: VNA) “Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism” initiative recognisesoutstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with cultural and naturalassets that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products, and lifestyle and have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Selection is based on an evaluation of their resources andinitiatives in nine areas covering the three pillars of sustainable development.
Applications are open until 24 April 2024, with the selectedvillages announced in the third quarter of the year.
Last year, Tan Hoa village in Tan Hoa commune, Minh Hoadistrict of the central province of Quang Binh, was honoured as one of the BestTourism Villages.
The village is 130km from Dong Hoi city of Quang Binh and 70kmfrom Phong Nha tourist centre. It is situated in the vicinity of Phong Nha-KeBang National Park, benefiting from unique natural conditions and a rusticcharm. The village has been recognised by the provincial People’sCommittee as an ecological and cave tourism area within the Tu Lan cavesystem. Surrounded by primary forests, limestone mountains and thetranquil Rao Nan river, Tan Hoa village exhibits asimple and enduring beauty that leaves a lasting impression onvisitors.
It is a pioneering tourism business model that promotes collaboration between enterprises and the local community, aiming formutual benefits. Oxalis Adventure, as its partner, has implemented a clearand comprehensive business strategy based on three fundamental principlesof safety, conservation, and involvement of the local people.
In 2022, Thai Hai Reserve Area of EcologicalHouses-on-Stilts Village in the northern province of Thai Nguyen was the only in Southeast Asia to win the title.
The “Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism” initiative,introduced in 2021, seeks to transform tourism into a catalyst for ruralprosperity and wellbeing. The initiative takes a dual-pronged approach: valuingand preserving rural villages, their landscapes, cultural diversity, andknowledge systems, and advancing innovative strategies aligned with theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Currently, the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Networkbrings together 186 members globally, comprising 129 recognised as Best TourismVillages and 57 villages taking part in the Upgrade Programme. Together, theyrepresent 55 countries./.
VNA
