In recent years, global rural tourism has become more diversified and its scale has continued to expand. Many countries have fully explored the natural ecology, history and culture of villages, and have continued to extend the rural tourism industry chain, turning it into a new growth point. Some villages and towns in Indonesia, France, and the United Arab Emirates are actively protecting and developing unique tourism resources with the support of the government and industry associations, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the local society and economy.
Panglipuran Village, Indonesia——Protecting the ecological environment and creating a sustainable tourism business card
Surrounded by mountains in the countryside of Bali, Indonesia, there is a unique traditional village——Panglipuran—— which was listed as one of the "Best Villages for Tourism" by the United Nations Tourism Organization in October 2023.
Strolling along the quaint stone and brick paths of Penlipuram Village, rows of bamboo buildings with ancient charm are covered in dense greenery and neatly manicured gardens are regularly organized. Bamboo houses with tiled roofs are a unique architectural feature of this place, locally known as Bentasi Gate House, with the name of the owner written at the entrance of the house. Roofs, porches, gates, and furniture are made of straw, coconut wood, bamboo, and teak, and paint is made of clay.
On the streets, there is a garbage can every 30 meters, local residents consciously abide by the rule of not littering randomly, and children are taught from an early age the importance of protecting the environment. Streets, corners, street lamps, signs ...... Everywhere in the village is clean and hygienic. Every month, housewives in the village get together to recycle and sort garbage, such as organic garbage that can be made into fertilizer, and some temporarily useless garbage that will be put into a "garbage bank" for other uses. The village is also ban in motorizing vehicles, and visitors are encouraged to explore the village on foot or by cycling in a low-carbon way.
The Penglipuram Village Cultural Festival is one of the most famous cultural signatures of the region. During the festival at the end of each year, the village organizes colorful activities such as traditional fashion shows and dragon and lion dances, and visitors can learn to make handicrafts such as painted bamboo weaving, carved bamboo masks, traditional accessories and ornaments.
According to the United Nations Tourism Organization, Panglipuram Village has promoted sustainable development in various ways, including managing waste, protecting natural resources, developing green tourism, and strengthening education and guidance. Boudiata, the head of the village, said, "The recognition of the international trade organization will inspire us to work harder to protect the ecological environment and pass on traditional culture, and further boost the rural tourism industry."
St. Emilion Town, France——Focusing on synergistic development and promoting original quality tours
About 40 kilometers east of Bordeaux, the "wine capital" of France, lies a small town called Saint-Emilion. The hilly landscape covered with large vineyards and the medieval-style architecture ...... is considered one of the most beautiful towns in France, and the grape-growing area here is also the first grape-growing area in the world to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. The town attracts about one million visitors every year.
Strolling through the town, the tiled roofs and stone-lined alleys retain the look of having come from history. "For thousands of years, the townspeople have become accustomed to this original environment." Jean-Daniel Debatte, director of the St. Emilion Tourism Bureau, told reporters that the town, along with 21 towns in the surrounding 230-square-kilometer land, is called "Greater St. Emilion" and has about 15,000 inhabitants, of whom about 1/6 are engaged in the wine-related industry and about 1/6 are engaged in tourism-related industries.
The 22 villages and towns collaborate with each other to offer their own distinctive excursions and services, working together to create a local tourism business card. Many of the distinctive accommodations here, such as chateau hotels and homestays, tend to be located in villages not far from St. Emilion. In order to allow tourists to explore a wider range of landscapes, the Tourism Bureau has specially designed a number of one-day cycling or walking routes, starting from the village of St. Emilion and passing through the vineyards and wineries of different villages along the way, so that tourists can learn to appreciate wines and taste the specialties. Thanks to this synergistic development, Debatte said, Greater St. Emilion's tourism resources have not been over-exploited and the visitor’s experience is excellent.
The Aquitaine region, where the town of St. Emilion is located, is situated in southwestern France and boasts the historic city of Bordeaux and attractions such as the Bay of Arcachon and coastal beaches. St. Emilion's tourism department will carry out promotional activities in Bordeaux and other well-known tourist cities, including the organization of music festivals, theater festivals, food festivals, specialty bazaars, etc., to attract tourists from various countries to visit St. Emilion.
The local tourism bureau also invites online bloggers to experience the tour and increases the promotion on social media platforms to attract more young tourist groups. The St. Emilion Tourism Bureau launched a new version of its official website in March this year, which allows visitors to enjoy online consultation, ticket booking, activity reservation, merchandise purchase and other services.
Hatta Town, UAE - practicing green philosophy, tapping into the beauty of nature and humanity
Hatta Town, more than 130 kilometers away from downtown Dubai, UAE, is located in the middle of the Hajar Mountains, surrounded by mountains and water, with picturesque scenery.
In 2021, Dubai launched the Hatta Master Development Plan, which aims to further develop Hatta's natural and cultural tourism resources and turn it into a major tourist destination and cultural exchange center. Hatta encourages people to travel in a green way. In addition to a convenient public transportation system, the town has built 11.5 kilometers of bicycle paths and 50 kilometers of mountain bike trails. Not long ago, the first half-month Hatta Festival came to an end, mountain hiking, mountain biking and motorcycle riding, honey selection and other thematic activities attracted many tourists to come to visit.
The honey industry is a specialty of the town of Hatta, which is home to the largest honey farm in the UAE. The farm has more than 4,000 bee colonies and produces more than 20 tons of honey per season. In the farm's exhibition center, there is a wide range of special honey products such as Makdoum tree honey, mangrove honey and Sid honey. "During the flowering season, bees travel to neighboring areas to collect honey. The environment for plant growth here is relatively pure and the honey produced is of high quality." Beekeeper Abdi and his colleagues served various honey samples and invited visitors to taste them. Abdi told reporters, "Getting to know Hatta honey will help to further understand Hatta's rich material culture."
Visitors to the honey farm can also experience the work of a beekeeper. Under the guidance of the staff, visitors put on beekeeping protective clothing and enter the beekeeping area, where they can watch the working scene of bees up close, learn about the characteristics of different bees and collect honey. The staff told the reporter that by learning about the history of beekeeping in Hatta and the important role that bees play in the natural ecosystem, it will help increase the awareness of visitors, especially young people, about the concept of green.