Deadline: 19 May 2025
The United Nations World Tourism Organization is seeking applications for its prestigious Best Tourism Villages Initiative committed to advancing rural tourism as a catalyst for sustainable development and inclusion, while celebrating the rich tapestry of cultural and natural heritage, community values, and sustainable practices that make the destinations unique.
The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism initiative aims to leverage tourism as a tool for rural development, well-being, and resilience. By combining efforts to value and preserve rural landscapes, cultural diversity, and knowledge systems, the initiative advances innovative tourism strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative comprises three integral components:
- Recognition as Best Tourism Villages: The recognition highlights rural tourism destinations that excel in preserving cultural and natural heritage, community-based values, and sustainability practices. The evaluation is based on their performance across nine areas spanning economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
- The Upgrade Programme: Provides targeted support to villages that do not fully meet recognition criteria. These villages benefit from tailored guidance to bridge gaps and enhance their offerings.
- The Best Tourism Villages Network: Serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among recognized villages and those in the Upgrade Programme. The Network organizes capacity-building initiatives to foster connections across sectors.
Focus Areas
- An external Advisory Board comprising global experts will evaluate applications based on nine key 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
Eligibility Criteria
- UN Tourism Member States are invited to submit up to eight candidate villages through their respective National Tourism Administrations (NTAs).
For more information, visit UN Tourism.
