On Calle Muntaner 108, in the heart of Barcelona’s Eixample neighborhood, you’ll find adestination that’s become famous in the world of mixology—Sips— which was recently namedthe top cocktail bar in the world in 2023.
20.10.2023 - 16:21 / forbes.com / Unwto Secretary
The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has added three villages in Italy to the 2023 list of Best Tourism Villages.
The Best Tourism Villages Program (part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Program) aims to promote the growth of villages in rural areas, combat their depopulation, and encourage sustainable practices through tourism.
The three Italian villages added to the list—Lerici, Civita di Bagnoregio, and Sabbioneta—are among 74 new villages chosen among 260 applications from around the world.
"Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions," said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, announcing this year’s selections at the group’s meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
A report by the Pulitzer Center noted that in 2020, the population in Italy dropped by 384,000 residents—more than it had dropped in over 100 years.
According to the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, many remote Italian villages are facing alarming depopulation rates as young people move away to seek work and educational opportunities elsewhere, leaving mostly elderly residents in these towns.
As a result, a number of municipalities and the European Union are creating innovative incentive programs to draw young people (both Italians and foreigners) back to these towns and villages, including the One Euro House program.
Travelers can also play a vital role in helping save and preserve these ancient villages.
One of the obvious solutions to the social and environmental threats of overtourism is for travelers to visit these less-touristed destinations.
Visitors to Italy feel as if they’ve found a hidden treasure when they “discover” a small town or hamlet away from the bustling tourist spots. Not only are there fewer crowds, but their visits can help support the local economy. Moreover, they’ll be far more likely to find an authentic experience steeped in tradition and culture.
To whet your appetite for going a bit off the beaten path, here is a brief introduction to the three charming villages in Italy that were most recently named Best Tourism Villages:
Lerici is a relatively small town (population about 10,000) in Liguria in the province of La Spezia (on the Italian Riviera). It is probably best known as the place where the British poet Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned when his boat overturned in a squall.
Only 19 minutes from the port city of La Spezia, visitors can enjoy exploring the narrow alleyways (caruggi) in the historic center, relax on its beaches, or visit castles and monuments overlooking the water that offer spectacular views.
This medieval Italian village is located on a hilltop in the province of Viterbo in the Lazio region. It
On Calle Muntaner 108, in the heart of Barcelona’s Eixample neighborhood, you’ll find adestination that’s become famous in the world of mixology—Sips— which was recently namedthe top cocktail bar in the world in 2023.
Ecuador’s Oyacachi has been recognised as one of the Best Tourism Villages of 2023, according to The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). This global initiative sees Ecuador’s villages leading the way in the preservation of cultures and traditions, celebration of diversity, creation of opportunities and protection of wildlife, through tourism as a positive force for transformation, rural development and the well-being of communities. This award follows Ecuador’s success in 2022, where Aguarico and Angochagua received the same accolade.
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