Tourism: these are the best towns to visit and explore

The villages were evaluated by a 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 and security.

The Secretary General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvilistated: “In rural communities everywhere, tourism can be a decisive instrument to create jobs, help local businesses and keep traditions alive. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ program shows the capacity of the tourism sector drive economic diversification Y create opportunities for all outside the big cities”.

Tourism: these are the best towns to visit and explore

1. Zell am See, Austria.
2. Wagrain, Austria.
3. Puqueldón, Chile.
4. Dazhai, China.
5. Jingzhu, China.
6. Choachi, Colombia.
7. Aguarico, Ecuador.
8. Angochagua, Ecuador.
9. Choke Mountains Ecovillage, Ethiopia.
10. Mestia, Georgia.
11. Kfar Kama, Israel.
12. Sauris-Zahre, Italy.
13. Isola del Giglio, Italy.
14. Umm Qais, Jordan.
15. Creel, Mexico.
16. El Fuerte, Mexico.
17. Ksar Elkhorbat, Morocco.
18. Moulay Bouzerktoune, Morocco.
19. Lamas, Peru.
20. Raqchi, Peru.
21. Castelo Novo, Portugal.
22. Pyeongsa-ri, Republic of Korea.
23. Rasinari, Romania.
24. AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia.
25. Bohinj, Slovenia.
26. Rupit, Spain.
27. Alquezar, Spain.
28. Guadeloupe, Spain.
29. Murten, Switzerland.
30. Andermatt, Switzerland.
31. Birgi, Turkiye.
32. Thai Hi, Vietnam.

This year’s edition featured the candidacies of 136 peoples from 57 UNWTO Member States. It should be noted that each Member State can present a maximum of three towns. Of them, 32 have been recognized by “Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO”.

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improvement program

Meanwhile, others 20 towns they will enter the improvement program. And the total of 52 towns will be incorporated into the global network of UNWTO Best Tourism Villages created in 2021which currently brings together 115 peoples from the five continents. The network provides several benefits: face-to-face and online trainingexchange of good practices and the recognition and the visibility of an international brand. The list is made up of:

1. Trevelín (Argentina).
2. Krupa na Vrbasu (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
3. Fontainhas (Cape Verde).
4. Ninhue (Chile).
5. San Vicente de Chucuri (Colombia).
6. Barichara (Colombia).
7. Kalopanagiotis (Cyprus).
8. Pisouri (Cyprus).
9. Adaba (Ethiopia).
10. Khonoma (India).
11. Neot Semadar (Israel).
12. Otricoli (Italy).
13. Il Ngwesi (Kenya).
14. Grand Baie (Mauritius).
15. Bella Vista (Paraguay).
16. Istebna (Poland).
17. Ferraria de São João (Portugal).
18. Castara (Trinidad and Tobago).
19. Antl (Turkiye).
20. Cumalkzk (Turkiye).

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The 2021 and 2022 candidacies were evaluated by a independent advisory board. this organ multidisciplinary was composed of:

• Federico de Arteaga (PhD in tourism sustainability, 2022).
• Joel Callañaupa (Planeterra, 2022).
• Mari Dunleavy (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture [IICA]2022).
• Ahmed Eiweida (World Bank, 2022).
• Elena García Garrido (REDR, 2022).
• Christian Gsodam (European Committee of the Regions [CER]2021-2022).
• Amran Hamzah (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia [CIPD]2021-2022).
• Ena Harvey (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture [IICA]2021).
• Lázaro Israel (IFCD, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]2021-2022).
• (Dr.) Manal Kelig (Adventure Travel Trade Association [ATTA]2021-2022).
• Judy Kepher Gona (Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda [STTA]2021-2022).
• Fergus Maclaren (International Cultural Tourism Committee, ICOMOS, 2021-2022).
• Joxe Mari Aizega (Basque Culinary Center [BCC]2021).
• David Mora Gómez (Basque Culinary Center [BCC],2022).
• Ximena Muñoz Vivas (Design Thinking Institute, 2021-2022).
• Fabrizio Angelo Orlando (TripAdvisor, 2021-2022).
• Helena Rey de Assis (United Nations Environment Program [PNUMA]2021).
• Jacqui Taylor (Agritourism Africa, 2022).
• Peter Wostner (OECD, 2021).
• (Dr.) Endo Yoshihide (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]2021-2022).

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The award ceremony will take place at Al Ula (Saudi Arabia) the days February 27 and 28, 2023coinciding with the first face-to-face meeting from the network “Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO”. The next edition will open in February 2023.