Kalopanayiotis and Pissouri were on Friday rated as top tourist villages in an annual list published by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).
The initiative was launched in 2021 to promote tourism in rural areas and preserve landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions.
During this, the programme’s fourth year, 55 villages out of a total of 260 around the world were selected from 60 member states, to be awarded the distinction of Best Tourist Village.
“Tourism is a vital tool for inclusion, enabling rural communities to protect and value their rich cultural heritage while promoting sustainable development,” WTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said.
Deputy Tourism Minister Costas Koumis said the distinction of the two villages elevated the country and affirmed Cyprus had a future.
The deputy ministry said in a statement that “the international coverage and publicity the award ceremony received from international media and the WTO’s social media, gave our country the opportunity to be viewed once again worldwide and showcase a small sample of its natural landscape, culture and history.”
It added that it invested and participated in the competition by choosing villages with the best chances of being distinguished.
The Best Tourist Villages initiative recognises the remarkable achievements of the villages and their efforts to upgrade their offerings, she said.
The villages’ unique strengths can be leveraged and showcased to promote economic growth, while supporting local traditions, empowerment and sustainable practices, she added.
This year the Best Tourist Villages Network announced the addition of 75 new members while 254 villages are currently included in the UN list.
The countries with the greatest number of Best Tourist Villages for 2024 are China with seven, Peru with five and Argentina with four.
