The Third International Summit for Mayors of Rural Tourism Villages and the Forum of Best Tourism Villages are held on September 22 in Huangling Village, Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province. (Photo provided to iChongqing and Bridging News)

The Third International Summit for Mayors of Rural Tourism Villages and the Forum of Best Tourism Villages were held on Sunday in Huangling Village, Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province. The experiences, models, and paths developed by these tourist villages, both domestically and internationally, offer valuable insights into rural development worldwide.

The summit, themed "Explore Famous Tourist Villages and Advance Together through Mutual Assistance," attracted representatives from the UN Tourism and 16 "Best Tourism Villages" recognized by the UN Tourism from eight countries across three continents, as well as domestic and international travel merchants, media outlets, and social media representatives.

At the summit, the International Festivals & Events Association (Asia) awarded Huangling the Outstanding Member Certificate, and the Huangling Initiative for International Famous Tourist Villages was announced.

An audience witnesses a live performance at the Third International Summit for Mayors of Rural Tourism Villages and the Forum of Best Tourism Villages on September 22 in Huangling Village, Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province. (Photo/Wang Yiling)

In addition to live performances of songs and dances, Huangling Village showcased various intangible cultural heritage skills, revitalizing the village's folk customs and providing attendees with richer cultural experiences.

During the forum, guests from both domestic and international backgrounds engaged in discussions. Zheng Ganghuan, president of the International Festivals & Events Association (Asia), provided an analysis of the integration of festivals and rural tourism, offering new perspectives on rural tourism development. Zhang Hui, Director of the Modern Tourism Research Institute at Beijing Jiaotong University, forecasted trends in rural tourism, delivering industry insights to the attendees.

At the roundtable, the five domestic Best Tourism Villages - Xidi Village, Yucun Village, Dazhai Village, Jingzhu Village, and Zhujiawan Village - shared their experiences and distinctive projects in tourism development, providing exemplary models for the high-quality development of rural tourism worldwide.

Representatives from eight of the Best Tourism Villages around the world shared their insights, with villages like Andermatt in Switzerland and Sidi Kaouki in Morocco engaging in mutual exchanges and discussions. This not only allowed participants to experience the rural charm of different regions but also provided valuable references for the internationalization and high-quality development of rural tourism through the sharing of successful development experiences.

Nguyen Quang Tuan, right, has an interview with a journalist. (Photo provided to iChongqing and Bridging News)

Nguyen Quang Tuan, a representative from Vietnam's Taihai Village, participated in this forum for the first time. He said, "I am very happy to be able to come to Huangling in China to participate in this grand event. I am deeply impressed by Huangling's practice of maintaining its natural landscape and authenticity." 

Nguyen also shared the story of Taihai Village. Although the village is not large, since the establishment of the aerial tourism area, three generations of villagers have lived in harmony, like one big family. Their enthusiastic reception of tourists is also like treating family members. He looks forward to hosting a similar forum in Taihai Village in the future, inviting representatives from various countries' villages to visit, exchange information, and share development experiences.

As the host of the International Summit for Mayors of Rural Tourism Villages for the third time, Huangling Village in Wuyuan has transformed from a semi-abandoned poor village to a world-class tourist village, providing a valuable case study for international village exchanges.