An interactive Telegram chatbot, Village Travel Bot, developed by AO “InnoVillage” with funding from the European Union, offers tourists a new way to explore the authenticity of Moldova’s rural communities. Launched on the 28th of August 2024, the Village Travel Bot features five pilot Moldovan villages, each offering a unique experience to visitors, from discovering natural wonders to weaving carpets.
Village Travel Bot (https://t.me/VillageTravel_bot) shows that Moldova has a lot more to offer than just sightseeing in its capital, Chisinau, and wine tasting. The stories and traditions of Moldova’s villages are equally fascinating for young Moldovans and international tourists, and Village Travel Bot ensures that a trip to the countryside will be a unique travel experience.
Village Travel Bot is a personal travel assistant and a local guide in one. Through friendly chat, the bot helps users discover lesser-known locations and recommends places to visit based on their interests and preferences. It also helps them customize their journey and connects them with local businesses, to easily book accommodations and activities. Uncommon facts, interactive stories and multimedia content for each of the first 50 sights allow users to explore the rich history and traditions of the pilot villages: Butuceni, Milești, Selemet, Puhăceni, and Gura Bîcului.
Tatiana Arcan, Project Manager and Co-Founder of InnoVillage, says, “Village Travel Bot is a digital ambassador for Moldova’s villages. It facilitates the discovery of new destinations and educates users about the rich cultural heritage of these places at the same time. Through this initiative, we hope to contribute to the economic growth of rural communities and offer an unforgettable experience to all who visit Moldova.”
Participating communities recognize the potential contribution of this project to revitalise the economic and social development of Moldova’s villages. Ana Plămădeală, Director of the Cultural Center in Puhăceni village, sees Village Travel Bot as an opportunity to showcase local history and traditions in an attractive and accessible way. “We are thrilled to be part of this innovative project, which not only supports local tourism but also contributes to the economic and social development of our community. It’s a joy to see how modern technology can revitalize traditional values and make them accessible to a new generation of tourists,” says Ana.
Village Travel Bot is part of the European Union’ broader effort to support digital innovation in the Eastern Partnership countries through the annual EaP Civic Tech Hackathons organised by our EU-funded Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility project. For further information or more details about “Village Travel Bot”, please visit www.villagetravel.md, or contact Tatiana Arcan, Project Manager at AO “InnoVillage,” at [email protected].
