HỘI AN — Having won an award as one of the Best Tourism Villages 2024 at a UN Tourism vote in Colombia, Trà Quế vegetable village in the ancient town of Hội An of Quảng Nam Province will be a focus in hosting the agency's conference from December 9-11.

Deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hồ An Phong said that the event would help promote eco-tourism of Hội An and renowned world heritage sites of Quảng Nam Province, as well as boosting the trend of agri-tourism.

Phong said Việt Nam will have welcomed 17 million overseas visitors by the end of 2024.

He said rural tourism, which made up a 70 per cent share in the international visitor segment, is seen as a potential factor for sustainable tourism.

“Rural tourism with 80 per cent of population has a large room for long-term growth. Rural communities have still preserved traditional lifestyle, culture, heritages and nature conservation,” he added.

Phong said the UN Tourism conference would accelerate opportunities for Quảng Nam and Hội An to promote their heritage sites – the ancient town of Hội An, Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary and Chàm Islands-Hội An world biosphere reserve site.

Deputy head of the Việt Nam Tourism Administration Hà Văn Siêu said Quảng Nam and Hội An are worthy destinations for organising the UN Tourism event with well-conserved culture and nature as well as hospitality.

He said the conference would see 300 participants, of which 100 would be international deputies from 25 countries in the world, gathering together to share experiences in rural tourism development and challenges among members.

Trà Quế village in Hội An is the third village in Việt Nam to win the UN Tourism award after Thái Hải eco village in Thái Nguyên province and Tân Hoá village in Quảng Bình Province.

Deputy chairman of Quảng Nam Provincial People’s committee Hồ Quang Bửu said that Trà Quế village is one of the most successful agri-tourism destinations among 126 rural community-based sites.

The 500-year village hosts from 20,000 to 30,000 visitors per year, while the community has good earnings from growing vegetables.

He said the provincial agri-tourism sector accounts for a third of the total number of tourists visiting the province every year.

Bửu said Cẩm Thanh Nipa Palm village in Hội An, had even earned VNĐ27 billion (US$1.08 million) in revenue from visitors’ tickets.

Hội An ancient town is seen as the most attractive destination in central Việt Nam, hosting 13.5 million tourists in 2018-22.

The town has been promoting green and sustainable tourism with zero-waste, non-plastic and low carbon policies. VNS