UNWTO announces “Best Tourism Villages” list of 2021, Brgy. Bojo in Aloguinsan, Cebu bags award

The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) initiative was launched to advance the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, along with their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, and their local values and activities, including local gastronomy. A total of 44 villages from 32 countries across the five world regions were granted recognition in 2021.

UNWTO announces “Best Tourism Villages” list of 2021, Brgy. Bojo in Aloguinsan, Cebu bags award

All of them stand out for their natural and cultural resources as well as for their innovative and transformative actions and commitment to the development of tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With tourism promotion among local communities bearing fruit, a local suburb bagged the Best Tourism Village Award from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat expressed her elation with the latest development, recognizing the “remarkable work” of the local community in Bojo through the Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association or BAETAS and the strong support of the municipality of Aloguinsan.

Tourism Officer-in-Charge-Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso and Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe Jones Lhuiller received the award in Madrid on December 2 (Thursday) on behalf of the Philippines.

Bojo is famous for its river, hills, underwater natural resources, mangroves, birds, and responsible locals with the Bojo River Eco-Cultural Tour as its main tourism activity–managed by the BAETAS.

BAETAS provides an eco-cultural river tour with mangrove ecology, bird and wildlife lectures–the profit from which was shared among the local government, community fund, barangay fund as well as the wages and payment to its suppliers.

The said Tour was ranked by Green Destinations among the Top 100 Global Sustainable Destinations in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

List of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2021

Bekhovo, Russian Federation Bkassine, Lebanon Bojo, Philippines Caspalá, Argentina Castelo Rodrigo, Portugal Cuetzalan del Progreso, Mexico Cumeada, Portugal Gruyères, Switzerland Batu Puteh, Malaysia Kaunertal, Austria Le Morne, Mauritius Lekunberri, Spain Maní, Mexico Misfat Al Abriyeen, Oman Miyama, Japan Mokra Gora, Serbia Morella, Spain Mustafapaşa, Turkey Nglanggeran, Indonesia Niseko, Japan Nkotsi Village, Rwanda Old Grand Port, Mauritius

Olergesailie, Kenya Ollantaytambo, Peru Pano Lefkara, Cyprus Pica, Chile Pochampally, India Puerto Williams, Chile Radovljica, Slovenia Rijal Alma’a, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Testo Alto, Brazil Saas Fee, Switzerland San Cosme y Damián, Paraguay San Ginesio, Italy Sidi Kaouki, Morocco Solčava, Slovenia Soufli, Greece Taraklı, Turkey The Purple Island, Republic of Korea Ungok Village, Republic of Korea Valposchiavo, Switzerland Wonchi, Ethiopia Xidi, China Yucun, China

Further, Brgy. Tenani in the Province of Samar has been selected to participate in the UNWTO’s Upgrade Programme of the Best Tourism Villages–receiving the Organization’s support in improving elements of the areas identified as gaps in the evaluation process.

List of Villages participating in the UNWTO Upgrade Programme
Ordino, Andorra Khinalig, Azerbaijan Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria Kaštelir Labinci, Croatia Agros, Cyprus Fuwah, Egypt Western Samos, Greece Hollókő, Hungary Biei, Japan Capulálpam de Méndez, Mexico	Godinje, Montenegro Gornja Lastva, Montenegro Oukaimeden, Morocco Barangay Tenani, Philippines Gasura, Rwanda Gostilje, Serbia Gorenja Vas, Slovenia Cantavieja, Spain Bo Suak, Thailand Ruboni, Uganda

ALSO READ: Three things to do on your next staycation

A total of 174 villages were proposed by 75 UNWTO Member States (each Member State could present a maximum of three villages) for the 2021 pilot initiative. Among which 44 were recognized as Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO. Another 20 villages will enter the Upgrade Programme of the Initiative. All 64 villages enter to make part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network.

The next edition will open in February 2022.