Every year the enthusiasm of many towns around the world
is renewed
, seeking to enter the select UN Tourism list called Best Tourism Villages and gain tourism momentum as the "Best Tourist Town in the World."
Argentina has participated with the nomination of its candidates
since the first edition of this program, in 2021.
This is why the Undersecretariat of Tourism of the Ministry of the Interior announced the
launch of the fourth edition
for which it will present eight towns - candidates to represent Argentina.
There is time to present candidates
until April 7
.
What is Best Tourism Villages
Best Tourism Villages seeks to distinguish those “villages that are
examples of rural tourism destinations
with recognized cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote community-based values, products and lifestyles.”
It also aims to recognize destinations with “a clear
commitment to sustainability
in all its aspects: economic, social and environmental with the fundamental objective of making tourism one of the engines of positive transformation, rural development and community well-being.”
Search for gold in the Yellow River, one of the excursions in La Carolina.
Photo Secretary of Tourism of San Luis
Which Argentine towns were chosen in the Best Tourism Villages
In the
first edition of 2021
, Caspalá, a town in the province of Jujuy, was chosen as part of a list of 44 towns chosen from 32 countries.
In 2022
, UN Tourism selects 32 towns from 18 countries.
The three candidates that Argentina presented were Caviahue-Copahue (Neuquén), San Francisco de Alfarcito (Jujuy) and Trevelin (Chubut), which was not among the 32 chosen, but was part of the “Upgrade” program.
In 2023
, it was the turn of La Carolina, a town of 300 inhabitants located in the heart of the Central Sierras of San Luis.
Artisans of Caspalá (Jujuy), chosen among the best tourist towns 2021. Photos Tourism Nation
What requirements must towns meet to be candidates for Best Tourism Villages?
To participate in this UN Tourism program you must meet
three basic requirements
:
low demographic density and a maximum of 15,000 inhabitants;
being in a landscape with traditional activities such as agriculture, forestry, livestock or fishing
share the values and tourist lifestyle of the community
The Undersecretariat of Tourism
will select the eight candidates
who will represent Argentina and who will then be evaluated by UN Tourism.
“This initiative promotes
prosperity and rural well-being
, as it seeks to value and preserve towns along with their landscapes, cultural and natural diversity," said Yanina Martínez, Undersecretary of Tourism.
"It values
community products and lifestyles
and promotes
tourism as an engine of development
and well-being with a commitment to sustainability," he added.
Concepción del Yaguareté Corá, in Corrientes, was a candidate in 2021. Photo Cristian Cardozo PH AND RF PHOTOGRAPHS
To take into account
:
provinces can send more than one pre-candidacy.
All applications must be submitted by the destination and have the endorsement of the province to which they belong
The evaluation of the pre-candidacies will be carried out by a Committee of Experts
Towns presented in previous calls and not selected may request support to consolidate their previous application.