The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative was launched to advance the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, along with their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, and their local values and activities, including local gastronomy.

A total of 44 villages from 32 countries across the five world regions were granted the recognition in 2021.

All of them stand out for their natural and cultural resources as well as for their innovative and transformative actions and commitment to the development of tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The villages were evaluated by an independent Advisory Board based on a set of criteria such as Cultural and Natural Resources, Social, Environmental and Economic Sustainability, Infrastructure and Connectivity or
Health, Safety and Security, among others.

All of the 44 chosen villages scored a total of 80 or more points or more out of a possible 100.

The 2021 list includes the Portuguese villages of Castelo Rodrigo and Cumeada.

To read the full announcement, click here.