Slunj Named One of the World's Top 54 Tourist Villages

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has included Slunj on the list of the 54 best tourist villages in the world, as reported by the UNWTO on Thursday. The City of Slunj responded by saying that it is an acknowledgment of excellence for all its residents.

UNWTO declared the best tourist villages in the world this week at the General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. They were selected through an invitation-based competition that saw nearly 260 rural destinations from around the world apply. Among them, 54, including Slunj, were declared the best, while an additional 20 were included in the upgrade program.

These are villages (or smaller towns in rural areas) that, according to UNWTO criteria, excel in nurturing rural areas, preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.

Commenting on these awards, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized that tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity and empowering local communities everywhere. He pointed out that the recognized villages have used tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.

UNWTO launched the initiative for the best tourist villages in 2021 as part of the "Tourism for Rural Development" program, which promotes tourism development in rural areas, fights depopulation, and encourages innovation and value chain integration through sustainable tourism practices.

The villages were assessed in several key areas this year, including the preservation of cultural and natural resources, economic, social and environmental sustainability, tourism development and value chain integration, tourism management, infrastructure and connectivity, as well as health and safety.

UNWTO will support the 20 villages chosen for the upgrade program in meeting the criteria for recognition.

"The network of the best tourist villages provides a space for the exchange of experiences, good practices, learning, and contributions from experts and partners from the public and private sectors involved in promoting tourism as a driver of rural development," emphasized UNWTO.

The City of Slunj emphasized that this is "great news" and that it goes far beyond an award for tourism, the beauty, and richness of the city, its cultural and natural treasures.

"It is also recognition of excellence in the field of sustainable and socially responsible business in all aspects, which ultimately manifest most in the city's tourism sector. We share this award among 4,224 parts because we have that many residents who, over the past three decades, have worked together to rebuild our beautiful city after the devastation in the Homeland War," said Slunj Mayor Mirjana Puškarić.

She added that every day of effort, work, perseverance, and the desire to create the city as it is today is reflected in this award. Slunj is recognized as a small tourist settlement that continuously works on development and invests in all segments of society to serve as an example of excellence in sustainable and socially responsible business.

"I am extremely proud because, together, we have received international recognition that we are on the right path," Puškarić concluded.

Source: CNTB

Photo author: Zoran Jelača; Source: CNTB