In some of the world’s most visited holiday destinations, attitudes towards tourism are fraught with discontent and frustration. But in the world’s best tourism villages, 52 of which have just been announced for 2025 by UN Tourism, communities are harnessing tourism for good.
2025 marks the fifth year that the UN has been spotlighting rural communities around the world working to embrace tourism sustainably. The villages that applied for inclusion were assessed on nine different areas, including infrastructure and connectivity, cultural and natural resources and environmental sustainability.
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The villages added to the list this year bring the total number of rural communities to 319. A further 20 were added to the ‘Upgrade Programme’, which supports ‘high-potential villages on their journey to meet recognition criteria’.
Standouts include Antônio Prado, a municipality in Brazil known for its steadfast preservation of Italian culture; Asuka, a village in Japan’s Nara Prefecture, famous for its characteristic terraced hills, and Akyaka, a ridiculously pretty and remarkably unspoilt spot in Muğla Province, Türkiye.
‘Our Best Tourism Villages 2025 highlight communities that are working to safeguard their cultural heritage, preserve their natural resources and create economic opportunities through tourism.’ said UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. ‘These villages show that by embracing tourism, they can promote social inclusion and build a future where no one is left behind.’ Scroll on for the complete list.
These are the UN’s 52 best tourism villages for 2025
- Carlos Pellegrini, Argentina
- Maimará, Argentina
- Khinalig, Azerbaijan
- Krupa na Vrbasu, Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Antônio Prado, Brazil
- Digang, China
- Dongluo, China
- Huanggang, China
- Jikayi, China
- Murillo, Colombia
- Kaštelir Labinci, Croatia
- Pacto, Ecuador
- Pont-Croix, France
- Flößerstadt Schiltach, Germany
- Marktgemeinde Bad Hindelang, Germany
- Aldea San Cristóbal El Alto, Guatemala
- Hosszúhetény, Hungary
- Mórahalom, Hungary
- Pemuteran, Indonesia
- Kandelous, Iran
- Shafiabad, Iran
- Soheili, Iran
- Neot Semadar, Israel
- Arquà Petrarca, Italy
- Asolo, Italy
- Bellano, Italy
- Asuka, Japan
- Koyasan, Japan
- Shodoshima, Japan
- Tonosho, Japan
- North Azraq, Jordan
- Plateliai, Lithuania
- Chamarel, Mauritius
- Grand River South East, Mauritius
- Loriga, Portugal
- Mértola, Portugal
- Vila Nogueira de Azeitão, Portugal
- Bled, Slovenia
- Muju Village, South Korea
- Yangsuri, South Korea
- Agaete, Spain
- Ezcaray, Spain
- Valendas, Switzerland
- Akyaka, Türkiye
- Anıtlı, Türkiye
- Barbaros, Türkiye
- Kale Üçağız, Türkiye
- Kolochava, Ukraine
- Synevyrska Polyana, Ukraine
- Masfout, United Arab Emirates
- Lô Lô Chải, Vietnam
- Quynh Son Community-based Tourism Village, Vietnam
Have a read of last year’s list and peruse our roundup of the most beautiful places in the world.
Did you see that this iconic Budapest landmark is reopening next year with a brand new glass bridge?
Plus: This European city is hosting a second Christmas Day – with a gingerbread bus and special festive currency.
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