Third Edition of UNWTO Best tourist villages The project recognized 54 villages from all regions in a ceremony on October 19 during the UNWTO General Assembly; 14 of which are in Asia.
Established in 2021, the program recognizes villages that are at the forefront of developing the countryside and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions.
A rigorous selection was made from nearly 260 applications, considering factors such as cultural and natural resources, social sustainability, and management and prioritization of tourism.
A further 20 villages have joined the Upgrading Programme, which supports the villages’ journey towards meeting accreditation criteria, helping to close gaps identified during the assessment.
All 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network, which will allow operators to share experiences and good practices and learn from tourism and rural development experts in the public and private sectors.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: „Tourism can be a powerful force for improving local communities and distributing benefits across regions. This initiative recognizes villages that have used tourism as a catalyst for their growth and well-being.
The list of Asian tourist villages new to this year’s program includes: Biei, Hakuba, Oku-Matsushima and Shirakawa in Japan; Thordo in India; Dongbaek, Mosan and Seva in South Korea; Huangling, Xiajiang, Zhagana and Zhujiawan in China; Pengilipuran in Indonesia; and Dan Hoa in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Asuka in Japan; Madla in India; and Bilebante, Pela and Taro in Indonesia are now supported under the upgrade program.
The call for submissions for the fourth edition will take place in the first months of 2024.
. „Gracz. Namiętny pionier w mediach społecznościowych. Wielokrotnie nagradzany miłośnik muzyki. Rozrabiacz”.