UN Tourism Announces ‘Best Tourism Villages 2025’ - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO) has revealed the list of Best Tourism Villages 2025, recognizing 52 rural destinations from 29 countries that exemplify how tourism can advance sustainable development, cultural preservation, and community well-being.

Selected from over 270 applications submitted by 65 Member States, this fifth edition celebrates villages that successfully combine cultural authenticity, environmental stewardship, and innovative tourism practices.

52 Villages Setting the Global Standard

From Koyasan (Japan) and Bled (Slovenia) to Carlos Pellegrini (Argentina), Chamarel (Mauritius), and Masfout (UAE), the 2025 list showcases the diversity and creativity of rural tourism worldwide.

Four villages from Türkiye – Akyaka, Anıtlı, Barbaros, and Kale Üçağız – earned recognition for their sustainable practices, heritage protection, and local community engagement.

In addition to the 52 recognized destinations, 20 more villages have joined the Upgrade Programme, designed to support high-potential candidates on their journey toward full recognition. Altogether, 72 new members have joined the Best Tourism Villages (BTV) Network, bringing its global total to 319 villages, making it the world’s largest community of rural destinations.

“Tourism as a Force for Inclusion and Prosperity”

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the transformative potential of rural tourism:

“Tourism can be a powerful driver of shared prosperity, inclusive growth, and territorial cohesion in rural areas. Our Best Tourism Villages 2025 demonstrate how communities are preserving cultural heritage, protecting natural resources, and creating economic opportunities through tourism. These examples show that by embracing tourism, rural areas can foster social inclusion and build a future where no one is left behind.”

Promoting Tourism for Rural Development

Launched in 2021 under the UN Tourism for Rural Development Programme, the Best Tourism Villages initiative recognizes and supports rural areas that are using tourism to safeguard landscapes, cultural traditions, biodiversity, and traditional knowledge systems.

Candidate villages are evaluated across nine key areas, including:

·         Cultural and Natural Resources

·         Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability

·         Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration

·         Governance, Infrastructure, and Connectivity

·         Health, Safety, and Security

The initiative is structured around three pillars:

·         Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism – Recognizing destinations with exemplary cultural and natural assets and a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation.

·         Upgrade Programme – Assisting promising villages to meet the recognition criteria through targeted capacity building.

·         The Best Tourism Villages Network – A global knowledge and exchange platform fostering learning, collaboration, and partnerships between rural destinations and public or private stakeholders.

Global Representation and Regional Highlights

The 2025 winners span all world regions – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East – showcasing a growing commitment to rural resilience and responsible tourism.

Notable examples include Agaete (Spain), Arquà Petrarca (Italy), Pemuteran (Indonesia), Khinalig (Azerbaijan), Synevyrska Polyana (Ukraine), and Valendas (Switzerland).

Among those in the Upgrade Programme are Al-Bashandi (Egypt), Kemiren (Indonesia), Oosterend (Netherlands), San Javier y Yacanto (Argentina), and Sant’Andrea di Conza (Italy).

Looking Ahead

The sixth edition of the Best Tourism Villages initiative will open for submissions in early 2026, offering a new opportunity for rural destinations to share their achievements and join the global movement advancing tourism for rural development.

With its expanding network, UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages continue to demonstrate that sustainable rural tourism is not only possible but essential — helping communities thrive while preserving the natural and cultural heritage that defines them.

Image Credit: © UN Tourism