 A locality frequently hit by floods, Tan Hoa has emerged as one of the best tourism villages in the world. |
The UNWTO announced the list of Best Tourism Villages 2023 at a meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Thursday.
Tan Hoa is the only representative from Vietnam among the 260 applicants from 60 countries seeking the title, said Vice Chairman of the Quang Binh People’s Committee Ho An Phong at a press conference the same day.
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism said Tan Hoa was recognised for its diverse and outstanding cultural and natural resources, as well as its commitments and actions to comply with the sustainable tourism principles.
Tan Hoa, a mountainous commune, is blessed with breathtaking natural landscapes and special cultural identities. In the past, it used to be frequently hit by floods due to its location.
Over the past years, local residents have engaged in tourism activities to help sustainably reduce poverty. With support from businesses, Tan Hoa has become a weather-adaptive tourism village with many unique and typical tourism products.
Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Program which works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism, and encourage sustainable practices.
The villages are evaluated under nine key areas, including cultural and natural resources; promotion and conservation of cultural resources; economic sustainability; social sustainability; environmental sustainability; tourism development and value chain integration; governance and prioritization of tourism; infrastructure and connectivity; and health, safety, and security.