Two Aragonese towns aspire to become the “Best Tourist Town of 2024”

Achieving the prestigious recognition “ Best Tourism Villages of 2024 ” (Best Tourism Villages) awarded by UN Tourism year after year and entering this select list is one of the greatest distinctions that Spanish towns can achieve. Up to six towns in our country, including two from Aragon, have been chosen by the Government of Spain for the UN Tourism committee to evaluate the applications.

As it could not be otherwise, Aínsa in Huesca and Sos del Rey Católico in Zaragoza have been the only two candidate towns from the Aragonese community to achieve this distinction. While it is true, our community already has experience in being part of this list. In 2022, Alquézar (Huesca) was included and last year Cantavieja (Teruel).

This distinction is an initiative that seeks to recognize those localities committed to sustainability and that are a notable example of a rural tourism destination, with recognized cultural and natural assets . Along with the Aragonese, other Spanish candidates will share the candidacy, such as Cudillero (Asturias), Mura (Barcelona), Pals (Girona) and Casares (Málaga).

Those towns recognized under the “Best Tourism Villages” seal will receive a plaque valid for three years that can be renewed. Belonging to this list gives these towns international visibility, as they are considered rural destinations that preserve and promote their landscapes, their biological and cultural diversity, as well as their local values ​​and activities, and that have a commitment to sustainability.

Towns that do not meet all the necessary requirements to enter the list may become part of the network with the Upgrade program . In this way, they will receive aid from UN Tourism so that the town can continue improving. This was what happened with Cantavieja (Teruel), which received the upgrade in 2021 and finally achieved the distinction last year.

REQUIREMENTS

The requirements for localities to be distinguished are that they are towns with less than 15,000 inhabitants, located in a landscape with a significant presence of traditional activities such as agriculture, forestry, livestock or fishing and that they share the values ​​and lifestyle of the community.

Once these conditions are approved, they are evaluated through nine thematic blocks: cultural and natural resources, promotion and conservation of cultural resources, economic sustainability, social sustainability, environmental sustainability, tourism development and integration of the value chain, tourism governance, infrastructure and connectivity, and health and safety.