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    32 villages of 18 countries named as ‘ Best Tourism Villages 2022’

    December 22, 2022
    top news world
    ,
    32 villages of 18 countries named as ‘ Best Tourism Villages 2022’

    Travel Biz News —

    The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has awarded 32 villages from 18 countries across the five world regions as ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’.

    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), according to UNWTO.

    The villages were evaluated by an independent Advisory Board based on a set of criteria covering nine areas:  Cultural and Natural Resources , Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources ,Economic Sustainability ,Social Sustainability ,Environmental Sustainability ,Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration ,Governance and Prioritization of Tourism ,Infrastructure and Connectivity,Health, Safety, and Security.

    A total of 136 villages were put forward for consideration by 57 UNWTO Member States (each Member State could nominate a maximum of three villages) for the 2022 edition. From these, 32 were recognized as Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO.

    A further 20 villages will enter the Upgrade Programme. All 52 villages will also become part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Global Network created in 2021 which from this date gathers 115 villages from the five continents. The Network provides a number of benefits including onsite and online training, sharing of good practices and international brand recognition and awareness.

    The Best Tourism Villages initiative is the flagship project of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme. The Programme aims to ensure tourism contributes to reducing regional inequalities in income and development, fighting depopulation, progressing gender equality and women’s and youth empowerment, advancing innovation and digitalization, improving connectivity, infrastructure, access to finance and investment, innovating in product development and value chain integration, promoting sustainable practices for more efficient use of resources and a reduction of emissions and waste and enhancing education and skills.

    The Programme promotes multi-level governance and partnerships and the active involvement and empowerment of communities.

    List of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2022:

    Zell am See, Austria

    Wagrain, Austria

    Puqueldón, Chile

    Dazhai, China

    Jingzhu, 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

    The Award Ceremony will take place in AlUla, Saudi Arabia on 27-28 February 2023 back-to-back with the first presential meeting of the UNWTO Network of Best Tourism Villages. The next edition of the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO will open in February 2023.

    22 December 2022

    Photo : A view of Birgi village of Turkey ( UNWTO )

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