Aimed at promoting and enhancing the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, alongside their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, knowledge systems, and local values and activities, including gastronomy, The Best Tourism Villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation initiative will return for a second year.
Following from the success of pilot project in 2021, UNWTO has announced the return of Best Tourism Villages for 2022. In 2021, over 40 villages from more than 30 countries across the five world regions from over 170 applications were recognised as Best Tourism Villages and a further 20 villages were selected to participate in the Upgrade Programme.
The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ recognises outstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with recognised cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products and lifestyle and have a clear committed to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental. The recognition is based on an evaluation of their resources and initiatives in nine areas covering the three pillars of sustainable development.
The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Network provides a space for exchanging experiences and good practices. It includes representatives of the villages recognised as ‘Best Tourism Village by UNWTO’ as well as those participating in the Upgrade Programme and it will benefit from the contributions of experts, public and private sector partners engaged in the promotion of tourism for rural development.