The UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has stressed the importance of tourism for rural development while presenting the Best Tourism Villages initiative. The Secretary-General invited Members States to join the initiative highlighting that a best tourism village is:
"A village with immense natural and cultural resources.
A village committed to promote and preserve its nature and culture.
A village with a vision of tourism as a tool of inclusive and sustainable development.
A village that values its gastronomy, its handicrafts and its people.
A village working for the wellbeing of its residents and visitors”.
Applications are open until July 31st .