Consulting and supporting people in craft villages and community-based tourism sites to prepare for the 8th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium

Working at Dia Tren paper production village, Phja Thap incense village, and Lung Ri tile village, the Geopark Management Board consulted and agreed with the villagers on the design, size, and packaging of traditional handicraft products as gifts for the 8^th APGN Symposium participants and the aim to develop tourism products for sustainable development goals.

At Dia Tren traditional paper production village, the Geopark Management Board advised and guided the local people to convey ethnic cultural elements into paper products to increase the product values and the consumption market; building a parking lot to raise a community fund for joint activities on protecting and preserving the craft village; install a corner to display paper and local agricultural products to contribute to improving income for the local people, with priority given to households with difficult circumstances in the village; set up an experience space where the members of a women’s group for the craft preservation and equal benefit sharing perform the traditional craft.... At Phja Thap incense village, the Geopark Management Board conducted a field survey, the Management Board, the hamlet and commune authorities and a number of households participating in tourism activities in Phja Thap hamlet agreed on the location, design ideas for check-in points, sales booths, and display spaces and experience points for visitors. The delegation tested packaging designs and new incense products including: incense buds, incense sticks; exchanged and provided further advice on product form, materials, sizes, etc. to suit the diverse needs of the market and tourists.

The Geopark Management Board also coordinated with the People's Committees of communes to provide advice and support on heritage conservation, environmental protection, and sustainable tourism development for craft villages, community tourism sites, Geopark partners, and people. At the meeting with the leaders of the People's Committee of Quoc Toan Commune and the people in Ban Danh - Lung Tao hamlet, after the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of a Participatory Cooperative presented the operational regulations of the Cooperative, the members attending the meeting discussed and agreed on the promulgation implementation of the regulations, and registered to participate in service groups such as transporting passengers by buffalo or horse-drawn carts, motorbike taxi, renting ethnic costumes... At the same time, the Management Board of the Geopark also explained, advised and guided the people to implement activities that both benefit the people and share common benefits with the community, ensuring the promotion of heritage sites according to the recommendations of UNESCO experts. In the coming time, the Geopark Management Board will continue to coordinate with local authorities of craft villages and community-based tourism villages on the eastern route of Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark to guide people to produce gifts from traditional handicraft products for delegates attending the 8^th APGN 2024 Symposium in Cao Bang.