UN Tourism has officially opened applications for the Best Tourism Villages 2026 initiative, inviting countries worldwide to nominate outstanding rural destinations that exemplify sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and community-led development. Launched in 2021, the flagship programme has rapidly evolved into a global benchmark for recognizing rural tourism excellence.
Member States are invited to submit up to eight candidate villages through their respective National Tourism Administrations (NTAs), with the application deadline set for June 9, 2026. The selected villages will be announced in the third quarter of the year during an official UN Tourism event.
The initiative evaluates destinations through a rigorous process led by an independent Advisory Board of global experts. Villages are assessed across multiple criteria including sustainability, governance, cultural and natural heritage, infrastructure, and community well-being, ensuring a holistic approach to tourism development.
Since its inception, the programme has received over 1,000 applications from more than 100 countries, highlighting its growing global relevance. Today, the Best Tourism Villages Network includes 319 rural destinations across 65 countries, with over 230 villages officially recognized and 83 participating in the Upgrade Programme, which supports destinations with high potential for future recognition.
At its core, the initiative is part of UN Tourism’s broader Tourism for Rural Development Programme, which positions tourism as a catalyst for economic growth, resilience, and social well-being in rural communities. It promotes the protection of landscapes, preservation of cultural diversity, and safeguarding of traditional knowledge systems while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Best Tourism Villages initiative also plays a crucial role in encouraging destinations to develop innovative and sustainable tourism models. By fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration among participating villages, it creates a global ecosystem of rural destinations that offer authentic, immersive travel experiences while ensuring long-term sustainability.
As global travel trends shift toward experiential and community-driven tourism, the 2026 call reinforces the importance of rural destinations in shaping the future of tourism. It not only elevates lesser-known regions on the global stage but also strengthens their potential as emerging hubs for sustainable tourism and experiential travel worldwide.
