UNWTO unveils 2022 ‘Best Tourism Villages’
From Austria to Vietnam, 32 destinations from all around the world have been named as ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’ by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The accolade recognizes rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while preserving and promoting community-based values and products. The initiative also recognizes villages for their commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and a focus on developing tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2022, a total of 32 villages from 18 countries across the five world regions were awarded the recognition. The villages were evaluated by an independent Advisory Board based on a set of criteria covering nine areas:
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
Welcoming the news, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “For rural communities everywhere, tourism can be a true game-changer in providing jobs, supporting local businesses and keeping traditions alive. The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO showcase the power of the sector to drive economic diversification and create opportunities for all outside of big cities.”
A total of 136 villages were put forward for consideration by 57 UNWTO Member States (each Member State could nominate a maximum of three villages) for the 2022 edition. From these, 32 were recognized as Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO.
A further 20 villages will enter the Upgrade Programme. All 52 villages will also become part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Global Network created in 2021 which from this date gathers 115 villages from the five continents. The Network provides a number of benefits including onsite and online training, sharing of good practices and international brand recognition and awareness.
Additionally, UNWTO will work with the following villages participating in the Upgrade Programme:
Trevelin, Argentina
Krupa na Vrbasu, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Fontainhas, Cabo Verde
Ninhue, Chile
San Vicente de Chucuri, Colombia
Barichara, Colombia
Kalopanagiotis, Cyprus
Pissouri, Cyprus
Adaba, Ethiopia
Khonoma, India
Neot Semadar, Israel
Otricoli, Italy
Il Ngwesi, Kenya
Grand Baie, Mauritius
Bella Vista, Paraguay
Istebna, Poland
Ferraria de São João, Portugal
Castara, Trinidad and Tobago
Anıtlı, Türkiye
Cumalıkızık, Türkiye
Applications in 2021 and 2022 were evaluated by an independent Advisory Board. The composition of this multidisciplinary board for 2021-2022 is as follows:
Federico de Arteaga (PhD, Innovation Sustainability, 2022)
Joel Callañaupa (Planeterra, 2022)
Mari Dunleavy (ICCA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, 2022)
Ahmed Eiweida (World Bank, 2022)
Elena García Garrido (ENRD, 2022)
Christian Gsodam (ECR European Committee of the Regions, 2021-2022)
Amran Hamzah (CIPD Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2021-2022)
Ena Harvey (ICCA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, 2021)
Lázaro Israel (Member of the Panel of Experts International Fund for Cultural Diversity at UNESCO, 2021-2022)
(Dr.) Manal Kelig (ATTA Adventure Travel Trade Association, 2021-2022)
Judy Kepher Gona (STTA Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda, 2021-2022)
Fergus Maclaren (ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee, 2021-2022)
Joxe Mari Aizega (BCC Basque Culinary Center, 2021)
David Mora Gómez (BCC Basque Culinary Center,2022)
Ximena Muñoz Vivas (Instituto Design Thinking, 2021-2022)
Fabrizio Angelo Orlando (TripAdvisor, 2021-2022)
Helena Rey de Assis (UNEP – UN Environment Programme, 2021)
Jacqui Taylor (Agritourism Africa, 2022)
Peter Wostner (Researcher and Policy Expert. Chairman of the Working Party on Rural Policy at OECD, 2021)
(Dr.) Endo Yoshihide (FAO Food and Agriculture Organization, 2021-2022)
