UNWTO Announces The Best Tourism Villages Around The World
The COVID pandemic has in some ways changed the way people travel and one good change relates to rural tourism. Instead of yet another city break, having been in lockdown, we now dream of the great outdoors and what it can offer. To that end, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has put together its second annual list of 32 Best Tourism Villages around the world.
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) lists 32 Best Tourism Villages
For the second year in a row, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has picked out its annual list of Best Tourism Villages in rural areas around the world. Instead of pushing top tourist destinations, the UNWTO, a United Nations agency, is focusing on responsible tourism. In fact, these best villages have made the grade for how they are growing visitor numbers without ruining what the visitors are coming to see.
In a statement, UNWTO said:
The accolade recognizes rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while preserving and promoting community-based values and products. The initiative also recognizes villages for their commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and a focus on developing tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
About the Best Tourism Villages initiative
The program is dubbed Best Tourism Villages and aims to combat rural depopulation. It also aims to advance gender equality, infrastructure investment, and innovation. Moreover, it seeks to reduce regional income and development inequality. All this, while offering sustainable tourism, reducing harmful emissions and waste.
According to the UNWTO, all the villages on the list have a “clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental.”
Meanwhile, the Upgrade Program has been formed by UNWTO to support villages that didn’t meet the full list of criteria this time around. That program aims to improve the villages’ chances of making the list in the future.
Which villages around the world made the list?
Out of a total of 136 villages put forward by 57 UNTWO member states, a grand total of 32 Best Tourism Villages around the world made the list. Meanwhile, there is no ranking, as such; instead, the destinations are listed alphabetically, by country.
Each country got the chance to submit up to three villages for consideration by the UNTWO. However, only Spain was successful in qualifying all three of its suggested villages. In fact, Alquézar, Guadalupe, and Rupit all made the grade.
Meanwhile, its neighbor on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal, had only one listed, Castelo Novo, which is among 12 historical villages hugged by the Serra da Gardunha mountain range. Austria joined the list with a small town, rather than a village. Zell am See nestles on the shores of Lake Zell, backed by the Kitzbühel Alps.
Best Tourism Villages around the world
Heading out of Europe, Chile made the list with Puqueldón on Lemuy Island in the Chiloé archipelago. This is the largest of nine villages on the island. China also made the list with two of its villages. One is Jingzhi in Chongquing, southwest China and the other is Dazhai in northern Guangxi province.
Another fascinating addition is Choke Mountains Ecovillage in Ethiopia. This ecotourism village lies on Choke Mountain, around 200 miles northwest of Addis Ababa. Meanwhile, the farming community uses biogas, solar energy and ecological waste management and operates sustainable land management. Moreover, Choke Mountain Village has introduced fair trade tourism, where tourists can buy local coffee, honey, beer and medicinal herbs as a souvenir of their visit.
The full list of Best Tourism Villages is included below in alphabetical order by country. Make a plan to add one or more of these destinations to your bucket list for 2023. Find out more from the UNWTO website here.
- Zell am See, Austria
- Wagrain, Austria
- Puqueldón, Chile
- Dazhai, China
- Jinzhou, China
- Choachí, Colombia
- Aguarico, Ecuador
- Angochagua, Ecuador
- Choke Mountains Ecovillage, Ethiopia
- Mestia, Georgia
- Kfar Kama, Israel
- Sauris Zahre, Italy
- Isola del Giglio, Italy
- Umm Qais, Jordan
- Creel, Mexico
- El Fuerte, Mexico
- Ksar Elkhorbat, Morocco
- Moulay Bouzerktoune, Morocco
- Lamas, Peru
- Raqchi, Peru
- Castelo Novo, Portugal
- Pyeongsa-ri, Republic of Korea
- Rasinari, Romania
- AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia
- Bohinj, Slovenia
- Rupit, Spain
- Alquézar, Spain
- Guadalupe, Spain
- Murten, Switzerland
- Andermatt, Switzerland
- Birgi, Türkiye
- Thái Hải, Vietnam