UN Tourism invites entries for 2024 Best Villages Awards

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Network, with 186 global members, promotes sustainable rural tourism and invites applications for 2024.

In its last three cycles, UN Tourism, previously known as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has seen a surge in participation, with nearly 600 submissions from around 100 nations. The organization’s Best Tourism Villages Network now encompasses 186 villages globally, with 129 achieving the status of Best Tourism Villages and another 57 participating in the improvement-focused Upgrade Programme. This network spans 55 countries across five continents.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism recognizes those rural destinations where tourism is being effectively embraced as a tool for sustainable growth, opportunity or for preserving unique cultural and natural heritage. For the 2024 edition, we look forward to seeing more examples of tourism as a force for good.”

Invitation for Applications

UN Tourism encourages its Member States to propose up to eight villages for consideration through their National Tourism Administrations (NTAs). The application window remains open until April 24, 2024, with the announcement of selected villages scheduled for the latter part of the year.

An independent Advisory Board, consisting of multidisciplinary experts, assesses the applications. The evaluation focuses on nine key areas: 1. Cultural and Natural Resources; 2. Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Resources; 3. Economic Sustainability; 4. Social Sustainability; 5. Environmental Sustainability; 6. Tourism Development and Integration into the Value Chain; 7. Governance and Tourism Prioritization; 8. Infrastructure and Connectivity; and 9. Health, Safety, and Security.

Fostering Rural Tourism Development

Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism initiative aims to make tourism a driving force for rural prosperity and well-being. It employs a two-fold strategy: recognizing and conserving the unique characteristics of rural villages, including their landscapes, cultural diversity, and knowledge systems, and promoting innovative approaches that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The initiative is structured around three main elements:

1. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism’ recognizes rural tourism destinations exemplifying exceptional cultural and natural qualities, commitment to sustainability, and promotion of rural and community-based values and lifestyles. Villages are selected based on their performance in nine areas that encompass the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainable development.
2. The Upgrade Programme within ‘Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism’ offers support to villages that don’t entirely fulfill the criteria for recognition. These villages receive assistance from UNWTO and its partners to bridge the identified gaps.
3. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism’ Network facilitates the exchange of experiences, best practices, and opportunities. It includes representatives from both the recognized Best Tourism Villages and those in the Upgrade Programme. The network benefits from contributions by experts and stakeholders from both the public and private sectors dedicated to promoting tourism as a tool for rural development. Since its launch, the network has organized various training sessions and masterclasses, benefiting hundreds of participants.

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