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The award recognises rural destinations that embrace tourism as a driver of development and new employment and income opportunities, while preserving and promoting community values and products. The initiative also recognises villages for their commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and for their focus on developing tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n
In 2022, 32 villages from 18 countries and five continents of the world received this recognition. The villages were assessed by an independent advisory committee on the basis of a set of criteria covering nine areas:<\/p>\n
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UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “For rural communities around the world, tourism can make a real difference by creating jobs, supporting local businesses and keeping traditions alive. The UNWTO Best Tourism Villages illustrate the power of the sector to drive economic diversification and create opportunities for all outside the big cities.”<\/em><\/p>\n A total of 136 villages were nominated for consideration by 57 UNWTO member states (each member state could nominate a maximum of three villages) for the 2022 edition. Of these, 32 were recognised as best tourist villages by the UNWTO.<\/p>\n Another 20 villages will participate in the upgrading programme. The 52 villages will also become part of the UNWTO Global Network of Best Tourist Villages, established in 2021, which currently includes 115 villages from five continents. The network offers a number of benefits, including on-site and online training, sharing of best practices, and international recognition and brand awareness.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Best Tourist Villages initiative is the flagship project of the UNWTO’s Tourism for Rural Development programme<\/strong>. This programme aims to ensure that tourism contributes to reducing regional inequalities in income and development, combating depopulation, advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth, advancing innovation and digitalisation, improving connectivity, infrastructure, access to finance and investment, innovation in product development and value chain integration, promoting sustainable practices for more efficient use of resources and reduction of emissions and waste, and enhancing education and skills. The programme encourages multi-level governance and partnerships as well as active participation and empowerment of communities.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In Ecuador<\/a>, Aguarico<\/strong> in the Amazonian province of Orellana and Angochagua<\/strong> in the province of Imbabura were awarded. Aguarico is located in an area of exceptional biodiversity where one can find the most varied types of medicinal plants, animals, but also ethnic groups that maintain their own customs. The second village, Angochagua – about 100 km from Quito – is located on the eastern slope of the Taita Imbabura<\/em> and offers the opportunity to discover the cultural heritage of the Karanki<\/em>, to learn about ancestral culinary techniques and to learn about Zulete\u00f1o<\/em> embroidery, all of this in the heart of magnificent Andean landscapes. Ecuador’s Minister of Tourism, Niels Olsen<\/a>, welcomed the awards.<\/p>\n \u00a1#Aguarico<\/a> en Orellana y #Angochagua<\/a> en Imbabura \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\udde8 nombrados Best Tourism Villages por @UNWTO<\/a>!Tourism as a driver for rural development and inclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7 villages awarded in Latin America<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Este reconocimiento premia a los destinos llenos de valores naturales y culturales \u00a1que orgullo!
Link: https:\/\/t.co\/hdbuEItQ0v<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/i85wOOW1aB<\/a><\/p>— Niels Olsen (@NielsOlsenP) December 20, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>