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    UN Tourism announces 55 Best Tourism Villages

    November 17, 2024
    top news world
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    UN Tourism announces 55 Best Tourism Villages

    Travel Biz News —

    Rural destinations consolidate their position as key players in sustainable tourism and community development as UN Tourism announces its Best Tourism Villages 2024.

    In this fourth edition, 55 villages from all regions received the recognition, chosen from over 260 applications from more than 60 UN Tourism Member States. Another 20 villages were chosen to join the Upgrade Programme.

    The Best Tourism Villages initiative not only recognizes the remarkable achievements of these villages but also highlights the transformative power of tourism

    The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism initiative was launched in 2021 to advance tourism’s role in rural areas, preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions. The Best Tourism Villages (BTV) Network grows every year, and with the announcement of its 75 new members, 254 villages are now part of the largest community of rural destinations in the world.

    The Best Tourism Villages initiative is part of the UN Tourism for Rural Development Programme. The Programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism, and encourage sustainable practices , according to a release issued by UN Tourism.

    The 55 Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism 2024 are (in alphabetical order):

    Abo Noghta Castles & Historic Tabab, Saudi Arabia

    Abu Ghosoun, Egypt

    Aínsa, Spain

    Amagi, Japan

    Anogeia, Greece

    Azheke, China

    Bo Suak, Thailand

    Capulálpam de Méndez, Mexico

    Caviahue-Copahue, Argentina

    Cuatro Ciénegas de Carranza, Mexico

    El Tambo, Ecuador

    El Valle de Antón, Panama

    Esfahak, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Gaiman, Argentina

    Gharb Suhayl, Egypt

    Grand Baie, Mauritius

    Guanyang, China

    Huancaya, Peru

    Jardín, Colombia

    Jatiluwih, Indonesia

    Kalopanagiotis, Cyprus

    Leymebamba, Peru

    Mindo, Ecuador

    Mura, Spain

    Nishikawa, Japan

    Óbidos, Portugal

    Ormana, Türkiye

    Palizada, Mexico

    Pissouri, Cyprus

    Portobelo, Panama

    Pueblo de Maras, Peru

    Quinua, Peru

    Ralco, Chile

    Roches Noires, Mauritius

    Romoos, Switzerland

    Ruboni, Uganda

    San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy

    San Juan del Obispo, Guatemala

    San Rafael de la Laguna, Ecuador

    Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Portugal

    Shibadong, China

    Sibayo, Peru

    Splügen, Switzerland

    St. Johann in Tirol, Austria

    Taoping, China

    Tra Que Vegetable Village, Viet Nam

    Trevelin, Argentina

    Uaxactún, Guatemala

    Urych, Ukraine

    Villa Tulumba, Argentina

    Vorokhta, Ukraine

    Wukirsari, Indonesia

    Xiaogang, China

    Xitou, China

    Yandunjiao, Chin

    This year seven villages from the Best Tourism Villages Upgrade Programme have achieved recognition as Best Tourism Villages. Through the Upgrade Programme villages received mentorship to improve their lowest-scored areas of evaluation and were able to apply through a fast-track process and qualify for Best Tourism Village recognition.

    These outstanding villages include Capulálpam de Méndez (Mexico), Grand Baie (Mauritius), Kalopanagiotis (Cyprus), Pissouri (Cyprus), Ruboni (Uganda), Bo Suak (Thailand), and Trevelin (Argentina).

    The 20 villages selected to participate in the Upgrade Programme this year are:

    Breb, Romania

    Campo Ramón, Argentina

    Cap Malheureux, Mauritius

    Cascas, Peru

    Choshuenco, Chile

    Dhudmaras, India

    Lens, Switzerland

    Malalcahuello, Chile

    Mexcaltitán de Uribe, Mexico

    Mittelberg, Austria

    Pals, Spain

    Piedades Sur, Costa Rica

    Polovragi, Romania

    San Juan Bautista, Chile

    Santa Catarina Palopó, Guatemala

    Seonhakdong, Republic of Korea

    Shirayama, Japan

    St. Leonhard in Pitztal, Austria

    Yamakoshi, Japan

    Yörük, Türkiye

    The call for submissions for the fifth edition will take place in early 2025, opening a new opportunity for rural destinations to share their inspiring initiatives and get global recognition as rural development champions.

    17 November 2024 Photo : UN Tourism

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      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)

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