The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced its list of Best Tourism Villages 2023 of various cities of Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Chile, China Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam based on 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.
The Best Villages were named during the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
In this third edition, 54 villages that are leading in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions from all regions were selected from almost 260 applications.
A further 20 villages have joined the Upgrade Programme, and all 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network.
Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism and encourage sustainable practices.
Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values, and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
The Network enlarges every year and aims at becoming the largest global rural network: with the announcement today of these 74 new members, 190 villages are now part of this unique Network.
