UNWTO Names Best Tourism Villages 2023
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced its latest group of exemplary rural destinations as part of the Best Tourism Villages 2023 initiative. This year, 54 villages across the globe were awarded the prestigious designation out of nearly 260 applicants.
The villages were revealed during the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on October 18th, 2023. Since launching in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages initiative highlights small communities that succeed in preserving local assets while utilizing tourism as an engine for innovation and development.
Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated, “Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions. This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.”
The selected villages excel across nine key evaluation 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
The initiative is comprised of three pillars:
Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO: Recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations that preserve community values and demonstrate commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Upgrade Programme: Supports applicant villages by identifying gaps and guiding improvements to meet recognition criteria.
Best Tourism Villages Network: Enables member villages to exchange best practices, learn from experts, and access partnership opportunities to strengthen tourism’s role in their growth.
With the addition of the 2023 honorees, the Network has grown to 190 members, on track to becoming the world’s largest rural community.
Here are the 54 villages awarded Best Tourism Villages 2023, listed alphabetically by country:
| Village/Country | Village/Country |
| Al Sela, Jordan Barrancas, Chile Biei, Japan Caleta Tortel, Chile Cantavieja, Spain Chacas, Peru Chavín de Huantar, Peru Dahshour, Egypt Dhordo, India Dongbaek, Republic of Korea Douma, Lebanon Ericeira, Portugal Filandia, Colombia Hakuba, Japan Higueras, Mexico Huangling, China Jalpa de Cánovas, Mexico Kandovan, Iran La Carolina, Argentina Lephis Village, Ethiopia Lerici, Italy Manteigas, Portugal Morcote, Switzerland Mosan, Republic of Korea Oku-Matsushima, Japan Omitlán de Juárez, Mexico Oñati, Spain | Ordino, Andorra Oyacachi, Ecuador Paucartambo, Peru Penglipuran, Indonesia Pisco Elqui, Chile Pozuzo, Peru Saint-Ursanne, Switzerland Saty, Kazakhstan Schladming, Austria Sehwa, Republic of Korea Sentob, Uzbekistan Shirakawa, Japan Sigüenza, Spain Şirince, Türkiye Siwa, Egypt Slunj, Croatia Sortelha, Portugal St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria Tân Hoá, Viet Nam Taquile, Peru Tokaj, Hungary Văleni, Moldova Vila da Madalena, Portugal Xiajiang, China Zapatoca, Colombia Zhagana, China Zhujiawan, China |
An additional 20 villages were selected for the Upgrade Programme to receive guidance on meeting all the recognition standards in future editions.
| Village/Country | Village/Country |
| Asuka, Japan Baños de Montemayor, Spain Bilebante, Indonesia Ciocănești, Romania Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy El Cisne, Ecuador Iza, Colombia Kale Üçağız, Türkiye Kemaliye, Türkiye Kfar Masaryk, Israel | Madla, India Ounagha, Morocco Pela, Indonesia Puerto Octay, Chile Sabbioneta, Italy Saint Catherine, Egypt Sarhua, Peru Taro, Indonesia Vila de Frades, Portugal Yanque, Peru |
The call for submissions for 2024 will open early next year, allowing more hidden gems of rural tourism to gain international visibility through this prestigious UNWTO initiative.
