Tourism for Rural Development Programme

Good Practices

The collection and dissemination of good practices are vital for guiding effective policy-making and strengthening our understanding of tourism’s role in fostering sustainable rural development.

This database shares exemplary cases from the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages (BTV) Network. It offers valuable insights into innovative approaches and proven strategies, and it encourages peer learning and the scaling of successful initiatives.

By systematically collecting, analysing and sharing good practices from successful BTVs, the database supports knowledge exchange, capacity building and the replication of effective models for growth and resilience. Through this work, it helps advance inclusive and sustainable rural development through tourism.

Two women weaving baskets in a rural workshop
© Quang Nguyen Vinh | Pexels.com
– published practices
– social sustainability themes
– world regions represented

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Restored historic mansion in Taraklı, Türkiye
Taraklı,
· BTV2021

A Fusion of Heritage and Digital Innovation for Rural Revitalization in Taraklı, Türkiye

Preserving Taraklı's heritage while unlocking inclusive digital skills and market access through a community-centered digital hub embedded in a restored historical landmark
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Weaver working on a handloom, India
Pochampally,
· BTV2021

ReWeave: Empowering Handloom Weavers Through E-Commerce and Capacity Building in Pochampally, India

Digital inclusion meets heritage: connecting Pochampally's handloom weavers to global markets through e-commerce, design skilling, and community-based digital empowerment.
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Ancient ruins of Umm Qais, Jordan
Umm Qais,
· BTV2022

An Experiential Learning Approach: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Umm Qais, Jordan

A women-led network of home-based tourism ventures in Umm Qais leverages experiential learning and peer support to transform competency gaps into inclusive, resilient rural tourism opportunities.
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Totora reed boat on the lake at San Rafael de la Laguna, Ecuador
San Rafael de la Laguna,
· BTV2024

Between Totora and Ancestral Plants: Artisanal Tourism in San Rafael de la Laguna, Ecuador

A Kichwa-led experiential route that weaves totora craftsmanship, ancestral plant knowledge, and contemporary design into dignified livelihoods and community identity.
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View of the thatched-roof village of Miyama, Japan
Miyama,
· BTV2021

Experience Local Life through a Community‑Led Educational Farm-stay Programme in Miyama, Japan

A community-designed homestay model that links agriculture, cultural exchange, and strengthens rural livelihoods.
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Aerial view of the coast of Puqueldón, Chiloé, Chile
Puqueldón,
· BTV2022

Cultivating Heritage Along the Native Potato Route: Agritourism Experiences from the Field in Puqueldón, Chile

Women-led agritourism in Puqueldón harnesses Chiloé's GIAHS-designated agricultural heritage, native potatoes, biodiversity, and ancestral traditions, to create inclusive livelihoods and authentic visitor experiences.
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Local entrepreneurs in a community café, Sehwa, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea
Sehwa,
· BTV2023

The Village That Built Its Own Future: Sehwa, Jeju Island, the Republic of Korea

A resident-owned cooperative harnesses Haenyeo heritage, batdam landscapes, and adaptive reuse to build a circular, inclusive tourism economy on Jeju Island.
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Women of the Nkotsi community gathered in a local cooperative space, Rwanda
Nkotsi Village,
· BTV2021

Red Rocks Rwanda: Community-Led Tourism for Inclusive Rural Development in Nkotsi Village, Rwanda

A community-led tourism model that links cultural heritage, ecotourism, and participatory governance to dignified livelihoods, conservation, and inclusive growth in rural Rwanda.
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