Two Moroccan villages among the “World’s Best Tourist Villages 2022”

The World Tourism Organization has designated, this Wednesday, December 21, 2022, two Moroccan villages among “the 32 Best Tourist Villages of the World 2022”.

The two Moroccan villages awarded are Ksar Elkhorbat, located 50 km east of Tinghir in the lower Todra valley, and Moulay Bouzerktoune, a small fishing village located on the western Atlantic coast in the province of Essaouira.

According to a UNWTO statement, these two villages perceive tourism as a driver of development that creates new opportunities for employment and income while assisting in the preservation and promotion of regional values and production.

The Organization also highlights the villages’ dedication to innovation and sustainability in all of its forms, including economic, social, and environmental sustainability, as well as their decision to grow tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In total, 32 villages from 18 different nations and all five world regions were given the award in 2022. An independent advisory committee conducted the evaluation based on a number of factors, including sustainability, economic, social, and environmental, governance, and tourism focus, as well as cultural and natural resources, promotion and conservation of cultural resources, and health, hygiene, and safety.

Welcoming the announcement, UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili pointed out that “for people living in rural areas around the world, tourism can make a real difference by creating jobs, supporting local businesses and keeping traditions alive. The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO award shows the sector’s ability to help diversify the economy and provide opportunities for all outside the big cities.

A total of 136 candidate villages were submitted for the 2022 edition by 57 UNWTO member states (each member state could submit up to three villages as candidates).