UN Tourism has officially launched the 2025 edition of its Best Tourism Villages initiative, continuing its efforts to promote rural tourism as a driver of sustainable development, cultural preservation and community inclusion.
Since its inception in 2021, the initiative has gained widespread recognition with over 800 applications from more than 100 countries across its previous four editions. Today, 254 villages worldwide are part of the Best Tourism Villages Network, representing nearly 60 countries across five global regions.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commented: “Best Tourism Villages celebrates rural destinations where tourism fosters opportunity, cultural preservation and sustainable growth. By harnessing their unique assets, these villages create opportunities for economic growth, safeguard local traditions and promote a better quality of life for their communities. We are eager to welcome those villages that represent the transformative role of rural tourism.”
Application and evaluation process
National tourism administrations from UN Tourism member states are invited to submit up to eight candidate villages for consideration. Applications close on May 19 and the recognised villages will be announced in the third quarter of the year at an upcoming UN Tourism event.
An external advisory board of global experts will evaluate entries based on nine key 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
- Health, safety and security
The initiative comprises three components:
- Best Tourism Villages Recognition honours destinations excelling in cultural preservation and sustainability across economic, social and environmental dimensions.
- The Upgrade Programme offers tailored support to villages that do not fully meet recognition criteria, helping them bridge gaps.
- The Best Tourism Villages Network provides a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among recognised villages and those in the Upgrade Programme.
This initiative is part of UN Tourism’s Tourism for Rural Development Programme, aimed at leveraging tourism for resilience and innovation, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
