UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages celebrated in AlUla

Posted by On March 13, 2023 0 Comment

Best Tourism Villages

UNWTO celebrated tourism as a major factor of sustainable rural development at a special Best Tourism Villages ceremony held in AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (12-13 March).

Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO (BTV) is the flagship initiative of the Organization’s wider work to advance tourism as a pillar of rural development and opportunity. Since 2021, BTV has produced an annual list of destinations which stand out for their commitment to sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and the preservation and promotion of community-based values. The ceremony will bring together Ministers of Tourism alongside representatives of the most recent villages recognized by UNWTO, including AlUla Old Town District itself.

“It is a great honour that AlUla is among this year’s award recipients. We look forward to continuing to raise awareness about the transformative role of tourism through our support for meaningful initiatives such as this,” said H.H. Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al- Saud, Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia, Member of Board of Directors, and the Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism is a leading pillar of growth and opportunity for villages, supporting rural businesses, providing jobs for local communities, and celebrating traditions and heritage. Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognises those destinations that are showing what tourism can offer, both for tourists as well as for the communities themselves.”

“We are delighted to host the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages 2022 Ceremony in Saudi Arabia this year. We look forward to sharing the rich history and heritage of the Kingdom with event attendees and participants,” said H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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, Republic of Korea
  • Rasinari, Romania
  • AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia
  • Bohinj, Slovenia
  • Rupit, Spain
  • Alquézar, Spain
  • Guadalupe, Spain
  • Murten, Switzerland
  • Andermatt, Switzerland
  • Birgi, Türkiye
  • Thái Hải, Vietnam

Additionally, UNWTO will work with the following villages participating in the Upgrade Programme:

  • Trevelin, Argentina
  • Krupa na Vrbasu, Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Fontainhas, Cabo Verde
  • Ninhue, Chile
  • San Vicente de Chucuri, Colombia
  • Barichara, Colombia
  • Kalopanagiotis, Cyprus
  • Pissouri, Cyprus
  • Adaba, Ethiopia
  • Khonoma, India
  • Neot Semadar, Israel
  • Otricoli, Italy
  • Il Ngwesi, Kenya
  • Grand Baie, Mauritius
  • Bella Vista, Paraguay
  • Istebna, Poland
  • Ferraria de São João, Portugal
  • Castara, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Anıtlı, Türkiye
  • Cumalıkızık, Türkiye