By Bloomberg News’s Lebawit Lily Girma (TNS)
Offbeat vacations are becoming more and more popular as a year of travel that was dominated by protests against overtourism in Barcelona, Oaxaca, and Venice comes to an end.
For example, think about the isolated island of Graciosa in the Azores, the isolated fishing community of Roches Noires in northeastern Mauritius, or the hilly town of Wukirsari in Indonesia, which is 270 miles east of Jakarta. They are one of 55 little, rural getaways worldwide that were selected for the 2024 U.N. Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages list. During the organization’s Executive Council meeting in Cartagena, Colombia, on November 14, the list of winning destinations—which Bloomberg News exclusively previewed—was unveiled.
The program, which was launched in 2021, intends to reward competent tourism management and increase awareness of lesser-known destinations that are worth seeing. In other words, these locations are utilizing tourism revenue to enhance their cultural customs, protect nature, and enhance the standard of living for residents. Additionally, each hamlet has fewer than 15,000 residents and continues to engage in customary pursuits like fishing and farming.
According to U.N. Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the Best Tourism Villages project not only honors the outstanding accomplishments of these villages but also emphasizes the transformational potential of travel.
Rural communities in Guatemala and Panama, two nations making their debut appearance on the list, are among this year’s deserving getaways. For instance, Portobelo, Panama’s ancient northern port, attracts less visitors despite its important colonial history and serene Caribbean beaches. However, it also stood out because tourism there supports coral reef restoration initiatives and youth cultural heritage preservation initiatives run by the Bah a de Portobelo Foundation.
Getting on this coveted list can also increase the number of wealthy tourists who visit. For example, Alquezar’s mountain trekking, canyoning, and climbing in Aragon, Spain, used to attract primarily French and Spanish tourists, but since its victory in 2022, foreign tourists from China and Japan have taken vacations there, according to Alquezar Mayor Ana Blasco Castillo. In addition to deflecting tourists from popular destinations, Sandra Carvao, a director at U.N. Tourism who promotes rural tourism, believes this is one of the Best Tourism Villages initiative’s main benefits. According to her, it’s really to ensure that the industry can help places that might not be at the forefront of your thinking.
U.N. Tourism received 260 nominations from over 60 member nations, from which this year’s winners were chosen. Five that are conveniently accessible were highlighted.
Spl gen, Switzerland
Spl ach, located in the Swiss Alps close to the Italian border, is a smaller ski destination than, say, the more crowded and glamorous St. Moritz, which is only an hour and a half’s picturesque drive to the east. However, that’s precisely the allure: With access to pristine lakes and Beverin Regional Nature Park, it’s a more sedate winter sports destination that also functions as an undiscovered location in the spring and summer. In 2020, Spl Gen joined the more than ten local towns that have pledged to contribute to its preservation by becoming a part of this protected area. The boutique Speluca Brewery Hotel is scheduled to open next year; its design incorporates new buildings that will showcase the hamlet’s traditional timber aesthetic with previously undeveloped areas on the outside of the village, such as an ancient barn and a 1960s hotel. After the upcoming Rheinwald Resort AG project, which will include a variety of rooms and a campsite for extended stays, is finished, the seasonal villages hope to draw more year-round tourists.
San Rafael de la Laguna, Ecuador
Located in the Andean foothills, less than two hours’ drive north of Quito, San Rafael de la Laguna is a reminder of Ecuador’s immense natural wealth. It is near Imbakucha, also called Lago San Pablo or the Lake of the Gods. Using traditional boats fashioned from totora reeds, a local aquatic plant that grows abundantly in the area, you may join guided tours to see herons and ducks. The hamlet also has lively festivals with Indigenous roots, and cyclists will find routes that cross the Otavalo Valley. The Inti Raymi commemorates the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, while the Pawkar Raymi, which coincides with the spring equinox, marks the beginning of the agricultural season in early March. For both, there will be a lot of community activities, such as traditional Andean dance and music. Craft programs show you how to build baskets, trays, and hats out of totora reeds if you want more practical experiences.
The neighborhood feels like a live outdoor museum thanks to the vibrantly painted houses in Gharb Suhayl, Egypt. February 2019 is when this house was exhibited. TNS/Dreamstime/Matyas RehakTNS
Gharb Suhayl, Egypt
It would be worthwhile to include a stay in Aswan, which is south of Giza, if you are determined to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2025. To get to the serene, historic Nubian village of Gharb Suhayl, which is situated on the banks of the Nile, take a 30-minute boat ride south from there. Beyond its vividly colored houses in shades of blue, yellow, and ochre, you’ll discover eye-catching murals that are supposed to create the impression of a living outdoor museum. at addition to spending time shopping at souks for crafts, jewelry, and spices, you might be asked to visit a Nubian family’s house to gain insight into their way of life. A few high-end tour companies, including Black Tomato, make stops at Aswan before continuing on down the Nile to Abu Simbel.
Pissouri, Cyprus
Pissouri, a 30-minute drive east of the tourist town of Limassol, is a more tranquil option on Cyprus’s rocky southwest coast. Pissouri offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, such as the Cape Astrot hiking trail, which is nestled among enormous rock formations and offers breathtaking views of a turquoise bay and its pebble-sand beach. Local tavernas flank the cobblestoned plaza of the farming community, offering Cypriot meze—small plates of regional cheeses, olives, shellfish, grilled meats, and dips. Take a guided tour of the Sultanina grape and winemaking traditions of Pissouri at G Theophamous Winery for a more in-depth look at the region’s history. In an effort to attract more tourists in the future, this little farming community is developing a disabled-accessible hiking trail and a House of Halloumi Museum that will highlight the dairy products of the area and be named after Cyprus’s famous cheese.
Uaxact n, Guatemala
The majority of visitors unintentionally miss Uaxact, an ancient Mayan historical site within a half-hour drive north, on their way to Tikal National Park. The area’s temples, including a ceremonial complex, stelae, and an astronomy observatory that the Maya previously used to mark celestial events, can be seen on uncrowded forest trails. At its height, between 600 and 900 A.D., Uaxact was a significant hub for astronomy and art. Chants, fires, and drumming are all part of the sacred ceremonies held at the location in March to commemorate the spring equinox festival in the village of the same name. Ask about taking a craft class with the local women’s organization Brisas de la Selva Maya, where you will learn how to create bracelets and necklaces using materials from the jungle, like flowers, mushrooms, and seeds.
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