Masfout in the Emirate of Ajman was announced and recognised as one of the world's Best Tourism Village (BTV) by the World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) during a special ceremony in Huzhou City, China, attended by a UAE delegation led by Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development (ADTD).
Masfout was awarded this honour in recognition
of its unique natural, cultural, and tourism assets, which have made it a
pioneering model in the field of sustainable ecotourism and rural tourism , reported WAM.
From Koyasan in Japan
to Chamarel in Mauritius, Bled in Slovenia, Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina, and
Masfout in the United Arab Emirates, 52 newly recognised Best Tourism Villages
from 29 countries showcase the power of tourism, leading tourism for rural
development.
In this fifth edition of BTV, 52 villages from
all regions - Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East - received
the recognition, selected from over 270 applications from 65 UN Tourism Member
States.
Masfout has become a
member of UN Tourism BTV Network, whichgrows every year, and with the
announcement of its 72 new members, 319 villages are now part of the largest
community of rural destinations in the world.
This global
achievement is a culmination of the efforts of the UAE in general, and the
Emirate of Ajman in particular, to develop an integrated model for sustainable
eco-tourism and rural tourism, reflecting a balance between development,
environmental conservation, and authentic cultural identity.
UN Tourism
Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Tourism can be a powerful tool to
progress shared prosperity, inclusive growth and territorial cohesion in rural
areas. Our Best Tourism Villages 2025 highlight communities that are working to
safeguard their cultural heritage, preserve their natural resources and create
economic opportunities through tourism. These villages show that by embracing
tourism, they can promote social inclusion and build a future where no one is
left behind.”
The Best Tourism
Villages by UN Tourism initiative launched in 2021, under the UN Tourism for
Rural Development Programme, accelerates the role of tourism in rural
development by valuing and safeguarding rural areas along with their associated
landscapes, knowledge systems, biological diversity and cultural heritage.
Candidate villages are
assessed by an independent Advisory Board under nine areas of evaluation:
Cultural and Natural
Resources
Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources
Economic Sustainability
Social Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability
Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration
Governance and Prioritisation of Tourism
Infrastructure and Connectivity
Health, Safety, and Security
The initiative
comprises three pillars: