UNWTO Names Its Best Tourism Villages for 2023

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has added 54 new villages from across the world to its esteemed annual list of Best Tourism Villages. 

The list was formally announced during the UNWTO General Assembly, which is taking place this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. 

Twenty more villages have also been added into the Upgrade Programme, meaning they have a few steps to go before they are recognized as Best Tourism Villages. 

Best Tourism Villages are rural destinations recognized for nurturing and preserving local landscapes and preserving cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions. The initiative was also created to help combat depopulation in rural areas and foster responsible tourism development. 

With these additions, there are now 190 Best Tourism Villages in its network.

Villages are chosen based upon nine different criteria: 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; and health, safety and security. 

“Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions," emphasizes UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.”

In alphabetical order, the Best Tourism Villages 2023 are…

• 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

Furthermore, the ones selected to participate in the Upgrade Programme are as follows…

• 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 full list of Best Tourism Villages, along with photos and information about each destination, is available to view on UNWTO’s website.

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