UN Tourism, formerly the United Nations World Tourism Organization, has opened applications for its search for the world’s best tourism villages.
The UN body’s Best Tourism Villages initiative has recognized 129 rural destinations since it was launched in 2021 to showcase villages where tourism preserves cultures and traditions, celebrates diversity, provides opportunities, and safeguards biodiversity.
Tourism as a force for good
UN Tourism defines rural tourism as a type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s experience is generally linked to nature-based activities, agriculture, rural lifestyle and culture, and sightseeing.
“Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism recognizes those rural destinations where tourism is being effectively embraced as a tool for sustainable growth, opportunity, or for preserving unique cultural and natural heritage. For the 2024 edition, we look forward to seeing more examples of tourism as a force for good,” said UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili in a news release.
Batu Puteh in Sabah was among the villages included on the list on the initiative’s inaugural year. Pela, a village in Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, meanwhile, was included in the initiative’s upgrade program in 2023 for having the potential to be among the world’s best rural destinations. Under the upgrade program, Pela would receive support from UN Tourism and partners to address its weaknesses as a rural destination. A total of 57 villages are currently taking part in the upgrade program. Both Batu Puteh and Pela are part of BIMP-EAGA.
The rural wonders of BIMP-EAGA
BIMP-EAGA is an advocate for rural tourism and considers tourism as one of its pillars to spur development in the subregion’s remote and less developed areas.
In a forum in May last year, BIMP-EAGA member states examined ways to promote rural tourism in the subregion and take advantage of their innate strengths, while addressing weaknesses. The four member states have common strengths, like having beautiful and unique natural landscapes and attractions as well as unique flora and fauna.
Both Batu Puteh and Pela boast of such wonders.
Located in the Lower Kinabatangan River in Eastern Sabah (Northeast Borneo), Batu Puteh has highly diverse ecosystems. Its freshwater swamp forest and rainforest are home to diverse wildlife, such as monkeys, hornbills, birds, and elephants.
Pela village sits on the banks of the Muara Pela River, which is part of the Mahakam River, the third longest in Borneo. The river is home to the pesut, or river dolphins. Pela also boasts of the nearby Semayang Lake, which offers picturesque sunsets.
Best Tourism Villages application mechanics
UN Tourism only accepts applications from its 186 member states. Each member can submit up to eight candidate villages. Applications are open until 24 April, with the selected villages announced in the third quarter of the year.
An external independent advisory board, comprising of experts in various fields, evaluates applications based on nine 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 prioritization of tourism; infrastructure and connectivity; and health, safety, and security.
According to the UN body, a candidate village must have a low population density and a maximum of 15,000 inhabitants; be located in a landscape with an important presence of traditional activities such as agriculture, forestry, livestock or fishing; and share community values and lifestyle.
Applications must be summited through an online application form. There is no fee to participate.