Catalan village features in UN list of best places for small community tourism

The Catalan village of Rupit has been featured on the United Nations World Tourism Organization's list of Best Tourism Villages. 

A total of 32 towns and villages from all across the world made the list, with Rupit featuring alongside two other sites in Spain, which was the country that earned more spots than any other on the list. As well as Rupit, Guadalupe, in Extremadura, and Alquezar, in Aragon, were also listed. 

Rupit boasts many well-preserved buildings dating back to the 17th century and is surrounded by natural beauty, located in the heart of the Collsacabra Space of Natural Interest. Away from the village itself, there are many lush forests, caves, prehistoric tombs, waterfalls, and cliffs to enjoy.

The UNWTO accolade recognizes rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for jobs while preserving and promoting community-based values and products. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

The initiative also recognizes villages for their commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and a focus on developing tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Catalan town has also launched the program Mobile Week Rupit for the development of sustainable and responsible tourism to promote new technologies in the rural world, strengthening multilevel governance and active community participation.

The villages named in the list were evaluated by an independent Advisory Board based on a set of criteria covering nine areas: Cultural and Natural Resources: promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources; economic Sustainability; social sustainability; environmental sustainability; tourism development and value chain integration; governance and prioritization of tourism; infrastructure and connectivity; health, safety, and security.

UNWTO’s best tourism villages 2022

As well as Rupit, these are the other towns that have been recognized in the United Nations World Tourism Organization's list: 

• Zell am See, Austria
• Wagrain, Austria
• Puqueldón, Chile
• Dazhai, China
• Jingzhu, China
• Choachí, Colombia
• Aguarico, Ecuador
• Angochagua, Ecuador
• Mulu Ecovillage, Ethiopia
• Mestia, Georgia
• Kfar Kama, Israel
• Sauris-Zahre, Italy
• Isola del Giglio, Italy
• Umm Qais, Jordan
• Creel, Mexico
• El Fuerte, Mexico
• Ksar Elkhorbat, Morocco
• Moulay Bouzerktoune, Morocco
• Lamas, Peru
• Raqchi, Peru
• Castelo Novo, Portugal
• Pyeongsa-ri, South Korea
• Rasinari, Romania
• Al’Ula Old Town, Saudi Arabia
• Bohinj, Slovenia
• Alquézar, Spain
• Guadalupe, Spain
• Murten, Switzerland
• Andermatt, Switzerland
• Birgi, Türkiye
• Thái Hải, Vietnam