The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced its list of Best Tourism Villages 2023 during an event in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, October 18. The UNWTO selected 54 villages from almost 260 applications across all regions. Among them are several villages from Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkey, and India.
Launched in 2021, the UNWTO recognizes villages leading in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.
“Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili at the Samarkand event. “This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.”
Here we take a look at some of these villages.
- Sentob, Uzbekistan
Sentob village is located in the Navoiy Region and is populated by nearly 2,000 residents. Residential homes are built from natural wood or fenced by traditional stone walls, most of which date as far as 2,000 years ago. The village is surrounded by high mountains, natural parks, the Fazilman Lake, and a Buddhist temple. According to the UNWTO, the local community turned this natural and heritage village into a tourism destination through various initiatives, involving historians, ethnographic and anthropology experts who researched and created a fact-based narrative of the destination. The village is a tourist destination not only for its architecture, natural charm and beautiful view, but also because of the local farming of apricots, mulberries, and walnuts and the practice of beekeeping. Locals produce authentic dairy products which are sold to local and foreign tourists. The three famous guest houses in the settlement are named after the wives of their owners: Maisara, Muslima, and Rahima.
______________________________________________________________
2. Kandovan, Iran
Dating at least 800 years, Kandovan is an ancient village in northwestern Iran, about an hour from Tabriz. The name Kandovan originates from the Persian word Kandoo, meaning beehive. With only 670 inhabitants, this extraordinary place is known for its rocky architecture and scenic beauty. The village is said to have been partially formed by volcanic remains from a powerful Mount Sahand eruption centuries ago which makes it one of its kind in the modern day, according to the UNWTO. The first inhabitants of Kandovan were people from Khorezm escaping the Mongol invaders. The strange architecture of the village was therefore a good shelter for those who hid and stayed in its caves. A new “Rocky Hotel” was recently built in the village, featuring beautiful cave interiors. Kandovan, for its appearance, is highly reminiscent of Turkey’s 4th-century Cappadocia, a UNESCO World Heritage site that features ancient villages and underground towns.
______________________________________________________________
3. Şirince, Türkiye
A small village, Şirince sits on a hillside around 8 km from the town of Selçuk in İzmir province. The village is quiet with some 700 hospitable residents. The serene views of valleys around it filled with wineries, the local traditional Turkish food and live music, and its narrow streets make it an ideal summer gate-away destination far from the touristic buzz and noise of Izmir. Just 30 minutes from the ancient city of Ephesus, Şirinçe is a jewel in the mountains. The town’s name actually means “cute” in Turkish, which used to be called “Çirkince,” meaning “ugly,” says Türkiye Sustainable. “As people wised up to how spectacular the village’s location and architecture really was, they changed the name to Şirince in 1926.” Şirince is “perhaps the perfect synthesis of a traditional Turkish village.”
______________________________________________________________
4. Dhordo, India
The serene village of Dhordo is located in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is a stunning creation of nature with a spectacular view of the “boundless white desert under the moonlight.” Some of the specialties of the village include its distinctive folk dances and music, handicraft culture, exquisite embroidery, and local mirror works. Its local community is the force behind preserving its cultural heritage, traditional artifacts, and hospitality services. The village is most famous for hosting the Rann Utsav festival, which attracts thousands of tourists annually with its music, dance, and traditional art activities. According to the Times of India, this year, the Kutch Rann Ustav generated more than $56 million, highlighting the significance of this tourism destination. The legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, the brand ambassador of Gujarat, famously said, “Kutch Nahin Dekha Toh Kuch Nahi Dekha,” meaning, if you haven’t seen Kutch, you haven’t seen anything.
