Big endorsement for state’s sustainable initiatives on World Tourism Day Kanthalloor village panchayath in Kerala’s Idukki district, where the sustainable and inclusive STREET tourism project of the State Responsible Tourism Mission was successfully implemented, has been bestowed with the ‘Gold’ award by the Government of India in the category of Best Rural Tourism Projects. Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh received the award from the Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, India V Vidyavathi at a ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam on the occasion of World Tourism Day in New Delhi. Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission (RTM) Coordinator and state Rural Tourism Nodal Officer K RupeshKumar and Kanthalloor Village Panchayat President P T Mohandas were also present to receive the honour. Keral...
Read MoreTag: rural tourism
UNWTO has launched a new report to determine the status of rural tourism in its Member States and identify the main challenges and opportunities of tourism as a driver for rural development from a policy perspective. "Tourism and Rural Development: A Policy Perspective - Results of the UNWTO Survey on Tourism for Rural Development to Member States" represents the first baseline document of UNWTO on tourism and rural development with the participation of Member States worldwide. Key Findings: Rural Tourism for Opportunity More than half of all Member States (59%) stated that rural tourism is a priority Almost all Member States (96%) foresee a better future for rural tourism in the upcoming years The creation of new jobs, improvement of livelihoods and fighti...
Read MoreUNWTO announces list of 44 villages in 32 countries as winners for the year 2021 The best examples of villages embracing tourism to provide opportunity and drive sustainable development have been celebrated at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in Madrid. Pochampally village in Telangana has been awarded as one of the Best Tourism Villages in the world. At the 24th General Assembly of the NWTO at Madrid, a total of 44 villages from 32 countries across the five world regions were granted the recognition for 2021. All of these villages stand out for their natural and cultural resources as well as for their innovative and transformative actions and commitment to the development of tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Located in Nalg...
Read MoreResidents of a picturesque Russian village have seen the price of their land double as people from Moscow and other cities snap up properties as a refuge from COVID-19 where they can work remotely. Krasnaya Polyana (Red Meadow) is a beautiful village of five streets in the mountains near the Black Sea. Flanked by mountains, it has good quality tap water, fresh air and big blue skies - things that can prove elusive in Moscow. A view shows a street in the village of Krasnaya Polyana, Russia May 21, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Rodionov The village has 5,000 residents, which is typical for Russia. What is atypical is that there are 20 cafes, restaurants, a pub and a bar, along with fast Wifi. Some of the restaurants existed before the pandemic to cater for skiers who use nearby resorts bu...
Read More*UNWTO is recognizing villages across the world that are committed to the promotion and preservation of their cultural heritage and sustainable development through tourism*New initiative announced at the opening of UNWTO Middle East regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The search is on for the best examples of rural villages harnessing the power of tourism to provide opportunity and safeguard their communities, local traditions and heritage. The initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will identify villages taking innovative and transformative approaches to tourism in rural areas in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the vision of making tourism a positive force for transformation, rural development and community wellbeing, ‘Best Tourism Vil...
Read MoreInstead of the traditional sand and sea holidays, foreign tourists are invited to enjoy the charms of the Spanish countryside, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday, launching an ambitious plan to save Spain’s dying villages. The 10 billion euro ($12.18 billion) plan aims to save rural life in a nation where 42% of villages are at risk of depopulation compared to a European Union average of 10%. FILE PHOTO: A villager drinks coffee at the only bar in Peleas de Abajo, in northwestern Spain. REUTERS/Susana Vera “I would especially like to emphasize that (tourists) should enjoy the rich rural tourist attractions that our country has, one of the jewels in the crown,” Sanchez told a meeting in Madrid of mayors from rural towns. From Monday, Spain will open up to tourists fr...
Read MoreTourists visiting Egypt's famed pyramids may rarely stray from the beaten track, but a project focused on rural villages adjoining the ancient sites now encourages them to do so. The scheme takes visitors to a verdant strip of farmland thick with palm trees that runs south of the Giza pyramids, between the lesser known pyramids of Saqqara and Dahshur and the western bank of the Nile. A man walks in the the sitting room where the food requested by the tourists is served, the meal is prepared by Saqqara residents to improve their living conditions in their village, in Giza, Egypt, April 27, 2021. REUTERS/Shokry Hussien There they can get a glimpse of local communities as part of Visit Badrashin!, a sustainable tourism project funded by the European Union. "When a tourist visits,...
Read MoreThe World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched a new competition to identify the best ideas that will help rural communities recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Global Rural Tourism Startup Competition will also support the entrepreneurs and enterprises that can help rural communities seize the economic and social opportunities that will come as tourism restarts. The United Nations specialized agency has recorded rising interest in unique and authentic travel experiences, including in nature-based and outdoors tourism. With this trend expected to accelerate as tourism restarts, the Startup Competition is looking for those ideas that will help ensure rural communities are best-placed to benefit. The competition will also look for ideas that will help build resili...
Read MoreHidden between the skyscrapers of Singapore’s urban jungle sits Kampong Lorong Buangkok - the only surviving traditional village in this modern city-state of 5.7 million people. Made up of 26 single-story wooden houses, which were once ubiquitous across Singapore, the “kampong”, the Malay word for village, has seen a boom in local visitors after borders shut due to the coronavirus pandemic. Local tourists tourism Kampong Lorong Buangkok in Bangkok. Photo: REUTERS/Edgar Su Most kampongs disappeared during Singapore’s rush to urbanise, but being stuck at home has left locals like 48-year old Jenn Lee, a day trader, craving for a bit of nostalgia to share with her son. “I think it’s good that he does know that (there) is something like that here, it’s not just overseas like Malay...
Read MoreTourism is also a key pillar for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage…It is imperative that we rebuild the tourism sector. Celebrated every 27 September since 1980, the 40th anniversary comes as tourism confronts the biggest challenge in its history. The importance of tourism as an economic sector - with an unmatched value chain and deep social footprint - has become even more evident over recent months. UNWTO has led the global response to this challenge and united its Member States, the tourism sector, and the UN system to face up to the pandemic. Host nation Argentina As part of the United Nations family, UNWTO is happy to see how World Tourism Day also contributes to this year’s 75th anniversary of the UN. WTD and UN75 meet, so that tourism comes back stronger...
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