![\"UNWTO](\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/village-3735180_1280-1024x682.jpg\")
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T<\/span>he search is on for the best examples of rural villages harnessing the power of tourism to provide opportunity and safeguard their communities, local traditions and heritage. The initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will identify villages taking innovative and transformative approaches to tourism in rural areas in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\r\n With the vision of making tourism a positive force for transformation, rural development and community wellbeing, \u2018Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO\u2019 aims to maximise the contribution of the sector to reducing regional inequalities and fighting against rural depopulation. It also seeks to advance the role of tourism in valuing and safeguarding rural villages along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological and cultural diversity, local values and activities, including gastronomy.<\/p>\r\n The launch of the initiative takes place on the occasion of the opening of UNWTO\u2019s first Regional Office in the Middle East (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), underscoring the focus of the Office on, among other issues, the role of tourism in rural development.<\/p>\r\n Celebrating tourism as a driver of rural development and wellbeing<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \u201cTourism can be a driver of positive change for rural communities all around the world,\u201d said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. \u201cWe want to recognize the uniqueness of each village and showcase the best initiatives to make tourism a means for a better future in rural areas. As we restart tourism, we work to ensure that we leave no one \u2013 and no village- behind.\u201d<\/p>\r\n The initiative includes three pillars:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n This is an excerpt originally published on the UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe<\/a>. Click here<\/a> for more info about the initiative.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The UNWTO has started its search for rural villages that provide the opportunity to safeguard their communities, local traditions and heritage. It hopes to maximise the contribution of the sector to reducing regional inequalities and fighting against rural depopulation. The initiative includes three pillars: a label, a program and a network. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":49915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,131,16,961,3755,534],"tags":[3779],"yoast_head":"\n\r\n