Opening Ceremony, Hanoi International Craft Festival, 2025
GLOBAL CRAFT DESTINATIONS
As our world moves faster and more reliant on technology, we humans seek to experience a slower pace and to re-connect with the hand made. We search for places that exemplify tradition, traditional knowledge, skills and stories. This can be wonderful for visitors but can also be risky for residents.
The Asia Pacific Crafts Alliance (APCA) has created a program of recognition and acknowledgement of superb craft offerings and unique visitor experiences that support residents, improve capacity and build reputation.
APCA works with governments and cities to create a pathway that honour and respects the knowledge and lives of craft villages while making space for the inquisitive visitor to benefit from the generosity and histories of villages.
What are Global Crafts Destinations?
Global Craft Destinations are ones that demonstrate exemplary:
Craft Heritage and Cultural Resources – combining tradition with original thinking and innovation; historic narratives, archives and knowledge preservation
Community Ownership, Governance and Engagement – empowered communities that guide their own destiny at the pace that works for them will provide the best destination experiences
Sustainability and Resilience – economic impact, fair wages, social inclusion combined with materials and environmental sustainability
Visitor Experiences - including hands-on co-designed workshops; food, hospitality and storytelling to create positive, memorable experiences
How does it work?
APCA supports governments and city authorities across the Asia Pacific to turn cultural assets into visitor-ready craft experiences — grounded in community leadership, ethical practice, and long-term economic viability.
We work long-term with a minimum three-year engagement ensuring that the community participates at every stage. Services include:
Evidence-led planning: Baseline research, market insight, and readiness assessments to guide decisions.
Community-first governance: Cultural permissions, safeguards, and benefit-sharing embedded from the start.
Experience design that works: Craft trails, workshops, festivals, and programs mapped to clear visitor journeys and service standards.
Implementation-ready outputs: Roadmaps, budgets, and procurement-ready scopes for delivery partners.
Capacity building: Practical support so local teams and artisan hosts can sustain and scale over time.
Delivery and Review: Service that assesses progress, adjusts expectations, matching capacity and need.
Students learning how to use hand looms at World Ikat Textile Symposium, Khon Kaen 2025
Global Craft Destination Awards
The Awards system acknowledges exemplary Craft Destinations that meet the above criteria, and which demonstrate a commitment to long-term planning and implementation.
Awards are assessed on merit by an independent jury comprising of experience tourism specialists, economic evidence lead measurements and relevant craft specialists.
Benefits for Craft Destinations
Achieving the Global Craft Destination Award designation transforms the destination into a core partner of the APCA ecosystem, unlocking tangible benefits for long-term growth including:
Professional Capacity Building: Access to hands-on mentorship from skilled international designers to develop and refine products that represent local skills and culture suitable for individual and global markets; alongside opportunities for training in tourism/hospitality development .
Global Visibility & Branding: Elevation of the destination’s prestige through professional articles and storytelling media and integration into the global digital map.
Market Connectivity & Revenue Growth: Proactive linkage with high-value international tour operators and craft-conscious buyers via B2B and B2C platforms.
Advocacy & Local Investment: Issuance of an Official Advocacy Letter to local authorities to recommend targeted infrastructure investment.
Connection to APCA Craft Masters Awards: Every four years APCA calls for nominations for its International Craft Masters Awards. Awarded craft masters are celebrated and linked to the GCDA program. Craft Masters Awards are now open for 2026/2027.
Annual Festival Spotlight: Nomination of Platinum winners as the ‘Craft Hub’ for APCA Festivals, attracting concentrated global media attention.
What makes a successful Craft Destination?
A successful and viable Craft Destination is one where:
The community is engaged and committed
Artisans are celebrated and revered
Craft knowledge is shared and transferred
Visitors can enjoy up to five experiences per day
Daily lived experience enables the continuation of culture and values
Visitation is sustainable and has low physical impact on daily life
Temporary installation in Seoul, South Korea, 2025
For more detailed information
Please download the Global Craft Destinations information brochure.
For further enquiries and advice about the APCA Global Craft Destination system please contact programs@asiapacificcraftsalliance.org