The Secretariat of Tourism and Environment announced the launch of a new edition of the Best Tourism Villages program, promoted by UN Tourism, in which eight villages in the country will be selected to represent the country in 2026. According to the Argentine News Agency, the initiative aims to recognize small rural localities that stand out for preserving their cultural identity, natural landscapes, and community lifestyle, while also developing sustainable tourism proposals. If any of them manage to repeat the success of Maimará or Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, Argentina will add a new highlighted destination to the global tourism map.
Once the Argentine representatives are chosen, their files will be sent to UN Tourism for international evaluation. The deadline for submitting applications at the national level closes on April 30, after which the final analysis process by the international body will begin.
Localities that are not selected as winners can also receive support. Buenos Aires, March 6 (NA) – Argentina is participating once again in one of the world's most prestigious tourism competitions. The chosen destinations will compete with villages from around the world that share similar characteristics. The challenge for Argentina is significant. In the previous edition of the competition, two villages from the country managed to enter the global list of the best rural destinations on the planet: Maimará, in the province of Jujuy, and Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, in Corrientes, which positioned both places on the international tourism map.
What is the UN Best Tourism Villages program The Best Tourism Villages program was created by UN Tourism with the objective of identifying and promoting villages that use tourism as a tool for local development and cultural preservation. The initiative distinguishes communities that manage to combine tradition, identity, and economic growth in a sustainable way. The distinction aims to recognize destinations where tourism acts as a driver of positive transformation, generating employment, strengthening regional economies, and keeping the cultural and productive traditions of each community alive. Additionally, the program also evaluates the commitment of the villages to environmental, social, and economic sustainability, seeking tourism models that respect the natural environment and local identity.
Requirements to participate in the international competition To be part of the international call, UN Tourism establishes three main conditions that the nominated localities must meet: have a low demographic density and a maximum of 15,000 inhabitants; be located in environments where traditional activities, such as agriculture, livestock, fishing, or forestry, are maintained; conserve and promote the cultural values, natural heritage, and lifestyle of the community. In addition to these requirements, the evaluation process analyzes the quality of the tourism offer, the participation of the community in the development of the destination, and the impact of tourism on the local economy.
How the villages representing Argentina will be chosen The selection of the eight villages that will represent the country will be in the hands of a committee of professionals from the Secretariat of Tourism and Environment, which will evaluate the applications presented by the interested municipalities. Each province can send more than one pre-candidate, but all must have the endorsement of the corresponding provincial Tourism area. Those that demonstrate potential to improve their tourism proposal may be incorporated into the "Upgrade" program, which provides technical assistance to strengthen their sustainability and development standards.
In a context where rural tourism is gaining more and more prominence worldwide, the initiative once again focuses on small Argentine villages, many of them true hidden gems that combine nature, history, and living traditions.
