Rupit (Barcelona), Alquézar (Huesca) and Guadalupe (Cáceres) have been the Spanish destinations awarded as the 'Best Tourism Villages' of 2022, according to the second edition of the 'Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO' initiative of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO). We have the details.
As reported in a press release, 32 villages from 18 countries from all 5 regions of the world received the recognition this year out of a total of 136 nominations from 57 UNWTO Member States.
The villages were evaluated by an independent advisory board based on a set of criteria such as cultural and natural resources, promotion and conservation of cultural resources, economic, social and environmental sustainability, infrastructure and connectivity, among others.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that the initiative shows the sector's capacity to boost economic diversification and create opportunities for all outside the big cities. "In rural communities everywhere, tourism can be a decisive tool to create jobs, help local businesses and keep traditions alive," he added.
The other winners in this edition are: Zell am See (Austria), Wagrain (Austria), Puqueldón (Chile), Dazhai (China), Jingzhu (China), Choachí (Colombia), Aguarico (Ecuador), Angochagua (Ecuador), Choke Mountains Ecovillage (Ethiopia), Mestia (Georgia), Kfar Kama (Israel), Sauris-Zahre (Italy), Isola del Giglio (Italy), Umm Qais (Jordan), Creel (Mexico), El Fuerte (Mexico), Ksar Elkhorbat (Morocco), Moulay Bouzerktoune (Morocco).
Also featured are Lamas (Peru), Raqchi (Peru), Castelo Novo (Portugal), Pyeongsa-ri (Republic of Korea), Rasinari (Romania), AlUla Old Town (Saudi Arabia), Bohinj (Slovenia), Murten (Switzerland), Andermatt (Switzerland), Birgi (Türkiye) and Thái Hai (Vietnam).
The award ceremony will take place in Al-Ula (Saudi Arabia) on 27-28th February 2023, coinciding with the first face-to-face meeting of the "Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO" network. The next edition will be open for nominations in February 2023.
The UNWTO initiative has 3 modalities. The first is the examples of rural tourism destinations with recognised cultural and natural assets, of which 32 villages have won this year.
The second modality is the 'Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO' Upgrade Programme, which selects several destinations among those that do not meet all the criteria to be included among the best tourism villages so that, with the support of both UNWTO and partners, they can improve the areas in which deficiencies have been identified during the assessment.
In addition, the latest modality includes representatives of villages already recognised among the 'Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO' and those participating in the Upgrade Programme.
Launched in 2021, the 'Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO' initiative promotes and enhances the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, their landscapes, their natural and cultural diversity, as well as their local knowledge, values and traditions, including gastronomy.
At the same time, the initiative also promotes new ways of approaching tourism development in rural destinations, thus contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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