Slunj – Best Tourism Village 2023 by UNWTO

Photo credit: Vedran Božićević
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) included Slunj on the list of the best tourist villages in the world as an outstanding rural tourist destination with recognized cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in economic, social and ecological dimensions.
UNWTO declared the best tourist villages in the world on October 19th, 2023., at the General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. They were selected through an invitation-based competition that saw nearly 260 rural destinations from around the world apply. Among them, 54, including Slunj, were declared the best, while an additional 20 were included in the upgrade program.
These are villages (or smaller towns in rural areas) that, according to UNWTO criteria, excel in nurturing rural areas, preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.
Commenting on these awards, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized that tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity and empowering local communities everywhere. He pointed out that the recognized villages have used tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.
A global network of local communities
UNWTO launched the initiative for the best tourist villages in 2021 as part of the “Tourism for Rural Development” program, which promotes tourism development in rural areas, fights depopulation, and encourages innovation and value chain integration through sustainable tourism practices.
The villages were assessed in several key areas this year, including the preservation of cultural and natural resources, economic, social and environmental sustainability, tourism development and value chain integration, tourism management, infrastructure and connectivity, as well as health and safety.
The initiative comprises three pillars:
Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO: Recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values, and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Upgrade Programme: Supports villages on their journey to meet recognition criteria, helping in areas identified as gaps during evaluation.
The Best Tourism Villages Network: a space for exchanging experiences and good practices, learning, and opportunities among its members, and it is open to contributions of experts and public and private sector partners engaged in the promotion of tourism as a driver for rural development.
The Network enlarges every year and aims at becoming the largest global rural network: with the announcement today of these 74 new members, 190 villages are now part of this unique Network.
Why Slunj
Best Tourism Villages 2023
List of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2023 is as follows (by alphabetic order):
- Al Sela, Jordan
- Barrancas, Chile
- Biei, Japan
- Caleta Tortel, Chile
- Cantavieja, Spain
- Chacas, Peru
- Chavín de Huantar, Peru
- Dahshour, Egypt
- Dhordo, India
- Dongbaek, Republic of Korea
- Douma, Lebanon
- Ericeira, Portugal
- Filandia, Colombia
- Hakuba, Japan
- Higueras, Mexico
- Huangling, China
- Jalpa de Cánovas, Mexico
- Kandovan, Iran
- La Carolina, Argentina
- Lephis Village, Ethiopia
- Lerici, Italy
- Manteigas, Portugal
- Morcote, Switzerland
- Mosan, Republic of Korea
- Oku-Matsushima, Japan
- Omitlán de Juárez, Mexico
- Oñati, Spain
- Ordino, Andorra
- Oyacachi, Ecuador
- Paucartambo, Peru
- Penglipuran, Indonesia
- Pisco Elqui, Chile
- Pozuzo, Peru
- Saint-Ursanne, Switzerland
- Saty, Kazakhstan
- Schladming, Austria
- Sehwa, Republic of Korea
- Sentob, Uzbekistan
- Shirakawa, Japan
- Sigüenza, Spain
- Şirince, Türkiye
- Siwa, Egypt
- Slunj, Croatia
- Sortelha, Portugal
- St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
- Tân Hoá, Viet Nam
- Taquile, Peru
- Tokaj, Hungary
- Văleni, Moldova
- Vila da Madalena, Portugal
- Xiajiang, China
- Zapatoca, Colombia
- Zhagana, China
- Zhujiawan, China
More info:
https://www.unwto.org/news/unwto-names-its-best-tourism-villages-2023
https://www.unwto.org/tourism-villages/en/villages/slunji-rastoke/