Circassian courtship dance in Kfar Kama (photo: Ziv Reinstein)
The Circassian settlement of Kfar Kama in the Lower Galilee was included by the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in the exclusive list for 2022 of tourist villages that are recommended to visit.
The purpose of the prestigious competition, which is being held for the second time in a row, is to leverage rural tourism, that is Out of a desire to maintain the rural and tourist image of settlements with up to 15,000 inhabitants. The importance of promoting rural tourism stems from the desire to preserve the community character, alongside the landscapes associated with them, knowledge systems, biological and cultural diversity, while striving to promote innovative and sustainable approaches to the development of tourism in rural destinations.
Included in the list of tourist villages of the United Nations, which are recommended to visit. Kfar Kama (photo: Walla! system, Ziv Reinstein)
Farmers' market in Kfar Kama (photo: Walla! system, Ziv Reinstein)
130 applications from 57 countries were submitted to receive the prestigious title, including the proposals of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
In a process led by the deputy director general, Kobi Barda, and responsible for external relations, Nira Fisher, the Israel Ministry of Tourism submitted applications for three localities, including for Kibbutz Naut Smadar in the Negev, which was included in the organization's upgrade plan, and closely accompanied so that it could submit applications next year as well and win In addition, the nomination of the Yishuv Tzipori was submitted, which was not recognized. The final list of the winning villages will be presented on January 20, 2023.
Kfar Kama contains a historical story about a Circassian community living near Kfar Tabor, which was established over 150 years ago by Muslim Circassians, who come from the Caucasus. , allows the tourist a visit passing through a time tunnel. The visitor is invited to walk through the settlement, which has unique architecture and a museum of Circassian heritage. Along with the preservation of the community's heritage and culture, which includes dance performances and tourist festivals, the tourist encounters an extraordinary culinary and cultural experience. The village, whose tourist infrastructure Renovated with the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism, filled with restaurants, riding attractions for the whole family, a dairy that offers workshops on cheese-making processes and a center for the preservation of Circassian heritage, which offers tours of the alleys of the old village, an audio-visual show and tastings of Circassian cuisine.
Winning international recognition is expected to encourage growth In tourism and the development of the rural area, and especially the one near the village of the winner.
Aybak Napso, director of the Circassian Heritage Center in Kfar Kama (photo: Walla! system, Ziv Reinstein)
The mosque in Kfar Kama (photo: Walla! system, Ziv Reinstein)
Representatives of Kfar Kama and the Ministry of Tourism were invited to the announcement conference, which will be held in Saudi Arabia on February 27-28.
Aybek Nafso, who runs the heritage center in Kfar Kama, told Walla!
Tourism: "We welcome the leadership of the Ministry of Tourism and UNWTO to include Kfar Kama as part of the Global Villages. This is about both Circassian and Israeli history. We thank Minister of Tourism Yoel Razvozov for his support and help throughout the competition. All residents of the village share in this win As for those who continue to cultivate the settlement and do everything for the preservation and dissemination of the Circassian heritage."
Yoel Razvozov, Minister of Tourism: "The winning of Kfar Kama as a 'tourist village' puts Israel in line with famous tourist sites from around the world. The selection of the settlement by the United Nations Tourism Organization will make it a pilgrimage center for many tourists and will have an impact An important positive for the rural environment in the Galilee."
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