Over 260 villages from more than 60 countries, representing the world’s five regions, have applied for the 2024 edition of the Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism. This marks the highest volume of applications ever received in the program’s four-year history.
Application Window Closes for Fourth Edition
Applications for the fourth edition of Best Tourism Villages closed on May 8. Building on the success of past editions, this year’s initiative aims to inspire communities worldwide to leverage tourism as a catalyst for rural development and wellbeing.
UN Tourism’s Member States were invited to submit up to eight candidate villages through their National Tourism Administrations (NTAs). The villages will be assessed by an external independent Advisory Board across nine areas of evaluation:
- 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
The villages recognized as the Best Tourism Villages, along with those selected for the Upgrade Programme, will be announced in the fourth quarter of the year.
A Growing Global Network of Tourism Villages
Since the call for applications was launched in January, the Tourism for Rural Development Programme by UN Tourism has hosted a series of online sessions with Member States, providing insights into the application process. These sessions, conducted in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish, attracted 117 participants, underscoring the widespread interest and commitment of UN Tourism Member States to advancing tourism for rural development.
The Best Tourism Villages (BTV) Network, currently comprising 186 members, will continue to expand. The Network includes 129 villages recognized as Best Tourism Villages and 57 participating in the Upgrade Programme, representing 55 countries. This collaborative network is a unique global consortium of local communities, serving as a platform for sharing experiences, enhancing knowledge, and fostering partnerships to drive rural development through tourism.
