The Best Tourism Village Initiative from UN Tourism highlights villages in its Member States that are using tourism to preserve their culture, celebrate diversity, and increase sustainability.
Applications by Member States are due by April 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM CEST. Although there is no financial award, recognized villages will receive increased visibility on an international level and become members of the Best Tourism Villages Network. Villages that do not meet all the criteria to be recongized as Best Tourism Villages can become part of the Upgrade Programme.
Eligibility
Only UN Tourism Member States may apply for this opportunity. Each Member State may submit up to 8 villages that:
- Have a low population density and a maximum of 15,000 residents
- Have a landscape with an important presence of traditional activities such as agriculture, forestry, livestock, or fishing.
- Share community values and lifestyle
Objectives
The objectives of the Initiative are:
- Reduce regional inequalities in income and development
- Fight depopulation
- Progress gender equality and women’s and youth
empowerment - Promote rural transformation and strengthen traction
capacity - Strengthen multi-level-governance, partnerships and the
active involvement of communities - Improve connectivity, infrastructure, access to finance and
investment - Advance innovation and digitalization
- Innovate in product development and value chain
integration - Promote the relationship between sustainable, equitable
and resilient food systems and tourism - Advance the conservation of natural and cultural resources
- Promote sustainable practices for a more efficient use of
resources & a reduction of emissions and waste - Enhance education and skills
Areas of Evaluation
All submissions will be evaluated 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
