Thirty-two destinations from all around the world have been named as Best Tourism Villages 2022 by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) out of the 136 villages put forward for consideration by 57 UNWTO Member States.
The accolade recognises rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while preserving and promoting community-based values and products.
The villages were evaluated 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 prioritisation of tourism; infrastructure and connectivity; and health, safety, and security.
The flagship project of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme, the Best Tourism Villages initiative comprises three pillars: Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO; Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Upgrade Programme; and Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Global Network.
Twenty villages will enter the Upgrade Programme, which benefits villages that do not fully meet the criteria to receive recognition. They will receive support from UNWTO and its partners in improving elements of the areas identified as gaps in the evaluation process.
All 52 villages will also become part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Global Network created in 2021 – gathering a total of 115 villages from the five continents. The network provides a number of benefits including onsite and online training, sharing of good practices and international brand recognition and awareness.
List of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2022
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
Lamas, Peru
Raqchi, Peru
Castelo Novo, Portugal
Pyeongsa-ri, South Korea
Rasinari, Romania
AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia
Bohinj, Slovenia
Rupit, Spain
Alquézar, Spain
Guadalupe, Spain
Murten, Switzerland
Andermatt, Switzerland
Birgi, Turkey
Thái Hải, Vietnam
