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Discover the ‘best’ villages in the world for rural tourism

Travel has changed in many ways since the start of the pandemic, but one change for the better is the new impetus for rural tourism. Where we once intended to just take a city break, in lockdown we’ve started to dream of the great outdoors – and that still hasn’t changed.

So here are 32 new rural spots to add to your list. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has compiled its second annual list of the “best” rural villages in the world.

It’s a departure from the usual lists of instagrammable places in peak tourist destinations. UNWTO is a United Nations agency focused on responsible tourism – so these villages were chosen for how they are increasing visitor numbers without ruining the original peaceful atmosphere.

In a statement, UNWTO said: “The award recognizes rural destinations that are adopting tourism as an engine of development and new opportunities for work and income, preserving and promoting community-based values ​​and products. The initiative also recognizes the villages for their commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects — economic, social and environmental — and focus on tourism development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

32 villages worldwide were chosen from the 136 submitted by 57 UNTWO member states. There is no sorting – destinations are listed alphabetically by country.

Each country was allowed to submit up to three villages for consideration – and only Spain managed to qualify all three villages. Rupit, Alquézar and Guadalupe made the list. Its neighbour, Portugal only qualified one – Castelo Novo, one of 12 historic villages surrounded by the Serra da Gardunha mountain range.

Austria starts the list with Zell am See. A small town rather than a village, it sits on the shores of peaceful Lake Zell, in the shadow of the Kitzbühel Alps. Its sibling, Wagrain, is a small ski resort near Salzburg.

Next is Chile, and its entry Puqueldón – the largest of nine villages on Lemuy Island in the Chilean archipelago of Chiloé. China survived with two villages: Dazhai in Guangxi province in the north and Jingzhu in Chongqing in southwest China.

A particularly interesting addition to the list is Choke Mountain Village, an ecotourism village on Choke Mountain, about 200 miles northwest of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. The farming community uses solar energy, biogas and eco-friendly waste management, operates sustainable land management and has introduced fair trade tourism where visitors can buy local honey, coffee, medicinal herbs and beer as a souvenir of their stay.

Called the “Best Tourist Villages” initiative, the program aims to combat rural depopulation, promote gender equality, innovation, infrastructure and investment, and reduce regional income and development inequality – while promoting sustainable tourism and reducing emissions and waste. The villages on the list have a “clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects — economic, social and environmental,” the UNWTO said in a statement.

A concurrent “Upgrade Programme” supports villages that did not meet the criteria on the full list to improve their chances of surviving for years to come.
The complete list, in alphabetical order, is as follows:

  • Zell am See, Austria
  • Wagrain, Austria
  • Puqueldon, Chile
  • Dazhai, China
  • Jingzhu, China
  • Choachí, Colombia
  • Aguarico, Ecuador
  • Angochagua, Ecuador
  • Ecovillage Choke Mountains, 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
  • Llamas, Peru
  • Raqchi, Peru
  • Castelo Novo, Portugal
  • Pyeongsa-ri, Republic of Korea
  • Rasinari, Romania
  • AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia
  • Bohinj, Slovenia
  • Rupit, Spain
  • Alquezar, Spain
  • Guadeloupe, Spain
  • Murten, Switzerland
  • Andermatt, Switzerland
  • Birgi, Turkiye
  • Thai Hai, Vietnam

Source: CNN Brasil

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