The United Nations Tourism Organization, rebranded from UNWTO, has opened applications for the 2024 edition of its Best Tourism Villages initiative.
The initiative, launched in 2021, is one of the pillars of the organization's rural development tourism program. The organization recognizes rural destinations where tourism is effectively embraced as an opportunity or tool for sustainable growth or as a means to preserve unique cultural and natural heritage.
In the last three successful editions, UN Tourism has received around 600 applications from around 100 countries.
Currently, the United Nations Tourism Organization Best Tourism Villages Network has 186 members around the world, of which 129 have been certified as Best Tourism Villages and 57 villages are participating in the upgrade program. Together they represent 55 countries across her five regions of the world.
Applications will be evaluated based on nine areas: Culture and Natural Resources. Promotion and preservation of cultural resources. Economic sustainability. social sustainability. environmental sustainability. Tourism development and value chain integration. Tourism governance and prioritization. Infrastructure and connectivity. and health, safety and security.
In addition to certifying tourism villages that meet the nine requirements, this initiative includes an upgrade program to support applicants who do not fully meet the criteria and to help address gaps identified in the evaluation process; It also includes the United Nations Tourism Network, which brings together representatives of tourism villages. Both certified villages and villages participating in the upgrade program came together to exchange experiences, good practices and opportunities.
Member countries of the United Nations Tourism Organization can introduce up to eight villages through their National Tourism Board and this form.
Entries close on April 24th and winners will be announced in Q3 2024.
