#HeritagePreservation

A burst of rural renewal is taking hold in Portugal, where abandoned villages have been transformed into vibrant hospitality hubs. This model offers practical lessons for Thailand as it seeks to revitalize declining rural communities, preserve cultural heritage, and create sustainable tourism that benefits local families. Portugal’s experience shows that thoughtful restoration can revive forgotten places while honoring architectural traditions and community values.

In Thailand, rural-to-urban migration has left many villages with shrinking populations and aging infrastructure. Adapting Portugal’s village hotel concept to Thai contexts could yield unique experiences that celebrate local heritage and strengthen village economies. The goal is to weave tourism into the everyday life of communities, not separate it from them.

Portugal’s remarkable transformation of abandoned rural villages into thriving hospitality destinations offers compelling lessons for Thailand’s efforts to revitalize declining rural communities while creating sustainable tourism opportunities that preserve cultural heritage and support local economies. The Portuguese model demonstrates how thoughtful restoration projects can breathe new life into forgotten places while respecting architectural traditions and community values.

This innovative approach carries profound relevance for Thailand, where rural-to-urban migration has left many traditional villages struggling with population decline, economic stagnation, and cultural erosion. By adapting Portugal’s village hotel concept to Thai contexts, the kingdom could develop unique tourism products that celebrate its rich rural heritage while creating meaningful economic opportunities for communities throughout the country.

Portugal has turned ruined villages into working hotels that revive local life and culture. (Forbes)
The trend mirrors Italy’s albergo diffuso model and offers lessons for Thailand. (Forbes)

The Portuguese model restores old houses into guest rooms. (Forbes)
The model keeps buildings in their original places. (Wikipedia)

The projects add small services like bakeries and restaurants. (Forbes)
They keep local crafts and food at the centre of the guest experience. (Forbes)

The popular Tunisian island of Djerba, steeped in centuries-old traditions and religious heritage, is facing an unprecedented crisis as its unique cultural legacy comes under assault from mass tourism, institutional neglect, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. This convergence of pressures threatens not just the island’s architectural treasures, but the very continuity of its traditional ways of life—raising alarms for heritage preservationists and tourism-dependent communities across North Africa and beyond.

A multisector crisis threatens Djerba, one of the Mediterranean’s most diverse heritage sites. Mass tourism, weak heritage governance, and accelerating climate change converge to imperil centuries-old ways of life and landmark monuments. The fate of this island’s cultural landscape offers hard lessons for Thai coastal communities facing similar pressures.

Djerba sits off Tunisia’s southeastern coast, a crossroads of Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab influences. Its heritage treasures include the Sedouikech underground mosque, Saint Joseph’s Church, and the El Ghriba Synagogue—vital testaments to centuries of interfaith coexistence. Traditional dwellings and vernacular architecture—houmas, menzels, and houchs—reflect adaptation to the island’s climate and social life spanning generations.

Tunisia’s culturally rich island of Djerba confronts an unprecedented convergence of existential challenges as mass tourism pressures, institutional neglect, and accelerating climate change impacts combine to threaten one of the Mediterranean’s most significant multicultural heritage sites. This crisis encompasses not merely architectural preservation concerns but the fundamental survival of centuries-old traditional ways of life, creating urgent implications for heritage conservation efforts throughout Southeast Asia and beyond, including Thailand’s own vulnerable cultural landscapes.

A new wave of Asian design is drawing global attention as eight standout projects from East and Southeast Asia appear on the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025 shortlist. From Beijing courtyards to nature-inspired city halls and eco-friendly pavilions, these works show how regional architects blend tradition, community, and sustainability. The developments offer timely ideas for Thailand’s built environment and public policy as the country pursues resilient, inclusive, and culturally rooted design.

A new wave of Asian design ingenuity is capturing global attention, as the recently announced shortlist for the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025 highlights eight standout projects from East and Southeast Asia. These groundbreaking works—from courtyard homes in Beijing to nature-inspired city halls and eco-friendly pavilions—demonstrate how architects from the region are redefining the dialogue between tradition, community, and sustainability in contemporary spaces. Their inventive approaches signal important trends for Thailand’s own built environment and public policy as the nation seeks more resilient, inclusive, and culturally rooted architectural solutions.

Kyoto, once revered as the tranquil heart of Japanese tradition and Zen, is facing an identity crisis amid a tidal wave of global tourism. Once known for its serene temples, quiet alleyways, and iconic geisha culture, the city now finds itself struggling under the weight of overtourism, as highlighted in a recent exposé by New York Magazine’s Intelligencer (nymag.com). As international arrivals shatter records, this former imperial capital is wrestling with preserving authenticity while accommodating millions of visitors seeking a slice of “the real Japan”—often with chaotic results.

Kyoto faces a new test: how to protect its heritage as international visitors surge. The city’s timeless temples, narrow lanes, and geisha traditions attract millions, while residents seek to keep daily life authentic and welcoming for guests. A recent feature explores how Kyoto negotiates preservation amid record arrivals.

Tourism has jumped since Japan reopened after the pandemic. Foreign visitors rose from about 6 million in 2011 to nearly 37 million in 2024, with Kyoto among the world’s most-visited cities. When domestic travelers are added, daily arrivals reach around 150,000. The city’s mountainous terrain amplifies pressure on infrastructure and resources, challenging a livable environment for about 1.4 million residents.

A seasoned traveler’s perspective reveals that across decades of change, three cities—Siem Reap in Cambodia, Ipoh in Malaysia, and Hanoi in Vietnam—have undergone remarkable transformations, evolving into vibrant and welcoming hubs that balance rapid development with cultural preservation. According to a recent feature by a long-time observer of the region, these cities have set themselves apart by improving infrastructure, heritage conservation, and overall visitor experience, distinguishing themselves in the ever-competitive Southeast Asian tourism landscape (Business Insider).

A seasoned regional observer highlights three cities—Siem Reap in Cambodia, Ipoh in Malaysia, and Hanoi in Vietnam—as standout examples of sustainable urban transformation. Over decades, they’ve balanced growth with heritage preservation to become welcoming hubs for residents and visitors alike. The piece notes improvements in infrastructure, heritage management, and visitor experience that set these cities apart in Southeast Asia’s competitive tourism landscape.

For Thai readers, these stories are both inspiring and cautionary. Southeast Asia remains a dynamic destination for travelers from Thailand, who seek a mix of familiar regional culture and fresh experiences just beyond the border. The author, with 30 years of regional immersion, observes how some destinations—like Bali—now face overtourism, while others manage growth more sustainably. This aligns with ongoing discussions in Thailand about the future of cities such as Chiang Mai and Phuket.

A recent travel report from a seasoned Southeast Asia explorer has spotlighted profound improvements in three standout cities—Siem Reap, Ipoh, and Hanoi—underscoring a regional trend of urban revival and sustainable tourism. The findings, chronicled by a writer who has chronicled regional shifts for nearly 30 years, are significant for both the tourism sector and local policymakers eyeing a post-pandemic recovery and future-friendly city development (Business Insider).

The transformation of these Southeast Asian cities matters to Thai readers and regional stakeholders for several reasons. Thailand’s own journey as a tourism powerhouse is reflected in the successes and stumbles of its neighbors—a comparative lens that can help both government and industry learn from best practices. Revitalizing city centers, safeguarding heritage, and stewarding sustainable growth are challenges faced right across the region. As domestic and outbound travel resumes with vigor, these stories also provide inspiration and caution for Thai cities seeking to balance authenticity, livability, and profitability.

A seasoned Southeast Asia observer highlights how Siem Reap, Ipoh, and Hanoi are transforming their urban landscapes through sustainable tourism, heritage protection, and smart city initiatives. The report underscores a regional revival that matters for Thailand as it rebuilds post-pandemic tourism and renews city planning for long-term livability.

For Thai readers and policymakers, these developments offer a clear reference point. Thailand’s own tourism story—balancing growth with authenticity and local welfare—can learn from neighbors about protecting heritage, upgrading infrastructure, and distributing visitor demand more evenly across cities. As travel resumes, the region’s experiences provide practical guidance and cautionary tales for keeping cities vibrant without sacrificing culture or community life.

Three cities in Southeast Asia—Siem Reap in Cambodia, Ipoh in Malaysia, and Hanoi in Vietnam—have recently emerged as beacons of urban transformation, according to a traveler and correspondent with three decades of firsthand observation across the region. Their trajectory showcases how regional destinations can thrive and improve under carefully managed growth, balancing heritage preservation with dynamic modernization. This story holds valuable lessons for Thailand as it seeks sustainable pathways to develop and promote its own cities on the world tourism map (Business Insider).

Urban transformation across Southeast Asia is reshaping how cities balance heritage with modern growth. A seasoned traveler and regional analyst highlights three standout examples—Siem Reap, Ipoh, and Hanoi—that now serve as models for sustainable development. These cities show how targeted planning and mindful regulation can boost tourism while protecting local character. The lessons speak to Thailand’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible growth and elevate its cities on the world stage.