Jatiluwih in Indonesia is being developed into a Cultural Heritage Living Museum for the Subak people. — Photos: UNWTO website
Through its Best Tourism Villages initiative that was introduced in 2021, UN Tourism has, to date, listed 254 villages as the best rural travel destinations across the globe.
Included on that list are the 55 villages unveiled last month during the fourth edition of the initiative.
In a press statement, UN Tourism secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The Best Tourism Villages initiative not only recognises the remarkable achievements of these villages but also highlights the transformative power of tourism.”
He added that by leveraging the villages’ unique assets, their communities can “foster economic growth, promote local traditions, and enhance the quality of life for their residents”.
Malaysia may be noticeably absent – we so far have one village (Kampung Batu Puteh in Kinabatangan, Sabah) recognised under the initiative in 2021 – but there are three other South-East Asian countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam) with villages that received the recognition this year.
China earned the most spots on the list this year with seven destinations named Best Tourism Villages, followed by Peru with five, Argentina with four, and Ecuador and Mexico with three each, while the other 22 countries have either one or two villages recognised on this year’s list.
Here are some of the destinations that have earned UN’s Best Tourism Villages recognition in 2024.
Bo Suak, Thailand is renowned for its ancient pottery and kilns.
Bo Suak, Thailand
Located in northern Thailand’s Nan province, Bo Suak village is home to a community whose cultural identity is very much rooted in pottery.
This is evidenced by one of its main draws, an ancient pottery and kiln site dating back to the 15 CE, a period when Nan ruler Phraya Phonlathep Ruechai reigned.
The discovery of the ancient kilns, one of which is 750 years old, played a role in reviving the locals’ artistic heritage.
Aside from being known for producing glazed ceramics with distinctive patterns, the Bo Suak people are also skilled in weaving, their handicrafts often bearing unique weaving patterns. This skill is also applied in religious context, namely in crafting the spiritual bamboo weaving that are meant to ward off negative spirits.
Visitors can get a better understanding of the village’s history by visiting the Huan Bansuak Saen-Chuen Museum, a wooden building where items from local temples as well as relics from the kiln site are exhibited.
For an even deeper understanding of the local culture, tourists can attend the annual Kong Dee Bo Suak Festival, which showcases the village’s traditions through competitions.
Jatiluwih, Indonesia
This verdant village within the Bali province may not have the same level of fame yet as the main Bali Island, but Jatiluwih is relatively known to tourists for its picturesque rice terraces.
Jatiluwih Tourism Village sits 685m above sea level, on the slopes of Batukaru Mountain in Tabanan Regency’s Penebel District.
Inscribed on Unesco’s World Cultural Heritage List on June 29, 2012, the village is also renowned for its Subak irrigation system. Guided by the Tri Hita Karana philosophy of Hinduism, the traditional system is believed to date back to the 11th century – though some sources even cite it to be as early as the ninth century.
It’s probably no surprise then that the village was selected as the host of the 10th World Water Forum in May this year.
As the village revolves around agritourism and ecotourism, a visit here will undoubtedly take tourists closer to nature.
The village is also being developed into a Cultural Heritage Living Museum, which aims to allow visitors to experience and learn about the Subak culture and more through an interactive platform.
Taoping, China features a castle that is now a living museum showcasing Qiang heritage.
Taoping, China
One of the seven Chinese villages honoured with the Best Tourism Villages title in 2024 is Taoping, which has been in existence for over 2,000 years.
The historic Qiang settlement, dating back to 111 BCE, houses the Taoping Qiang Castle – the world’s most well-preserved ancient Qiang watchtower complex.
There are 1,258 residents who call the village home, and 462 of them can be found at the 40,000sq m castle, which now serves as a living museum showcasing Qiang heritage and traditional life.
Local residents have also been developing study tour courses that not only diversify tourism offerings but further assist in preserving the Qiang culture.
Tourists visiting the village will have these local guides giving them further insight into one of China’s oldest ethnic groups.
The view that awaits is also worth a trip – as the village, with its maze-like streets and ancient stone buildings, is located in the scenic Lixian County, nearly 140km from Chengdu City.
Ormana, Turkiye offers historical insights through its interesting ruins.
Ormana, Turkiye
A visit to Ormana in Turkiye is made more interesting with a stay at one of its boutique accommodations, set inside the village’s historic “button houses”.
This unique architecture was born out of necessity: The buildings here needed to be earthquake resistant. This resulted in centuries-old dwellings, built solely with wood and stones, that are so sturdy they still stand tall to this day.
Renowned for its natural beauty, owing to its strategic placement on the foothill of the Taurus Mountains, it’s unsurprising that Ormana focuses on eco- tourism.
Places like the Camping and Caravan Park and the Dark Sky Park have been established to attract more eco-conscious tourists. Meanwhile, the village’s ancient ruins, such as the Erymna Ancient City and Tol Han Caravansarai, are great spots for history buffs and casual tourists alike.
Tourists can also partake in the over 50-year-old Traditional Grape Festival. The event, which celebrates the village’s agricultural heritage, is held annually on the first week of September.
Ruboni, Uganda has begun to embrace technology in its tourism offerings. — Ruboni Community Camp/Facebook
Ruboni, Uganda
Since their village borders the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, it only makes sense for the villagers of Ruboni in Uganda to engage in tourism within the park as well.
Aside from being involved in three tourist trails in the park, the community has also established forest reserves, meant to cater to tourists that are not as keen to hike up the high mountains but would still like to experience cultural connections to nature.
Outside of the park, the village offers 10 tourism activities, from basket weaving and farming to coffee-making and traditional cooking.
Buraru Forest Trail, Makongothe Hill Trail, Ruboni Village Walk and Mappata Waterfalls Trail are some of the natural beauties that can be enjoyed here.
Ruboni shows a commitment to tourism as the village features several tourism assets, including three homestays, nine hotels, a campground and the infrastructure of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, accessible via the Mihunga Park Gate.
Ruboni is also embracing technology in streamlining its tourism offerings, ensuring that bookings and navigations are made easier thanks to important upgrades such as a collective credit card system and a recent mapping of the village.
El Valle de Anton, Panama
Anyone familiar with the Panamanian golden frogs may be interested in visiting El Valle de Anton.
The village is the birthplace of the golden frog that is known as Panama’s national symbol, often associated with good luck and fortune.
Hence, the village also serves as the home of the Centro de Conservacion de Anfibios (or El Valle Amphibian Conservation Centre) that lets visitors learn about the golden frog and other local species.
So significant is the frog that there is even an annual Golden Frog Festival celebrating it, held for a week in mid-August. Planning a visit around this time will allow visitors to see the El Valle in all its vibrancy.
To visitors whom amphibians hold no appeal, they can instead explore the village’s historical significance. The little village set in the middle of a roughly million-year-old collapsed volcano served as a crucial site during the battle between Panama’s resistance and Spain’s conquistadors.
Other than that, El Valle is also great for ecotourism and adventure tourism, as it features a newly-constructed 2.2km-long bicycle path (Ciclovia) and a recently-constructed 30km-long (Ruta de La Caldera) that connects several communities.
