Sustainability & economic growth of rural areas in focus at UN Tourism meet

First Conference on Tourism for Rural Development concludes at Hoi An
2024-12-13
/
/ New Delhi
Sustainability & economic growth of rural areas in focus at UN Tourism meet

UN Tourism collaborated with Vietnam government for organising the meeting (Photo: UN Tourism)

The inaugural UN Tourism Global Conference on Tourism for Rural Development, hosted by UN Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam, has concluded in Hoi An in central Vietnam.
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With a focus on how tourism can drive economic growth and sustainability in rural areas, the first UN Tourism Global Conference on Tourism for Rural Development, hosted by UN Tourism,  Ministry of Culture and  Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam, concluded in the historic town of Hoi An in Vietnam on Thursday.

In a press statement, UN Tourism says the event brought together government officials, financial institutions, development agencies, tourism professionals, rural community leaders, researchers, and NGOs to explore strategies for enhancing tourism’s role in rural development.

It adds that during the conference UN Tourism and Fliggy, a Chinese online travel platform, signed an MoU to strengthen collaboration on rural tourism development.

UN Tourism says that the partnership aims to promote responsible tourism, foster innovation, and encourage knowledge exchange, with initiatives including showcasing best tourism villages, creating training programmes and conducting joint research.

It adds that conference highlighted tourism’s potential to create jobs, protect nature and cultural heritage, and promote social inclusion, with a focus on empowering local communities, women, and youth.

UN Tourism says that key discussions focused on policy frameworks for rural tourism, agriculture-tourism synergies for sustainability, market access, digital tools, and funding mechanisms to support rural destinations and entrepreneurship. It adds that the conference emphasised the need to prioritise tourism in rural development, ensuring its integration into funding and infrastructure planning.

The statement adds that the event stressed the need for cross-sector partnerships to ensure tourism drives economic growth while preserving cultural heritage and natural resources. Discussions focused on crafting policies, addressing infrastructure challenges, and fostering public-private partnerships for sustainable rural tourism.

It adds that panelists from organisations such as Asian Development Bank, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Mekong Tourism, PATA, and companies like Fliggy, Intrepid Travel and Traveloka shared insights on advancing rural tourism.

Zoritsa Urosevic

It further adds that the conference also hosted the Second Annual Meeting of the Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism Network, with 50 representatives from over 30 villages. The statement adds that the attendees reviewed the network’s achievements, discussed improvements in planning and coordination, and adopted a strategic framework to strengthen its foundation.

“This landmark event has demonstrated the immense potential of tourism to transform rural communities. By placing people and planet at the centre of our discussions, we have fostered meaningful connections and actionable strategies that will ripple across rural areas worldwide. Together, we have sown the seeds for a more inclusive and sustainable future,” says Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism.

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