Tirana, Albania, April 10, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Ministry of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Albania in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) under the special care of the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama, and Secretary – General of the UNWTO, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, organized the International Tourism Forum “The Future of Environmental Sustainable Tourism in Albania (FESTA)” which was held from the 3rd to the 5th of April 2023, in Tirana, Albania.

UNWTO Secretary-General Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili urged the Balkan countries to join together an form a single tourism destination in order to more effectively compete with large markets such as China, the United States or the Gulf countries. UNWTO will continue to work closely with Albania to ensure the enormous potential is fully realized both here and across the wider region.

“We are not rivals. We are complimentary to each other,” said Albanian Tourism Minister Mirela Kumbaro.

With 450 kilometers (280 miles) of coastline and 300 days of sunshine per year Albania offers a diverse range of attractions ranging from beaches to mountain resorts, as well as great food and culture.

Tourism and agriculture are two main revenue resources for Albania, one of Europe’s poorest countries. Tourism generated 17% of GDP in 2021, with arrivals increasing 33% last year to 7.5 million people. Kumbaro said 59% more tourists have come in the first quarter this year compared to last year.

Albania enjoyed one of the strongest increases in international tourist arrivals in the region, outperforming all the European Union countries in 2022 with a 19% rise in visitors.

On his first official visit to Albania, Secretary-General Pololikashvili reaffirmed his vision for a tourism transformed around the priorities of jobs, education and investments, and met both Prime Minister Rama and from Minister of Tourism Mirela Kumbaro to explore common goals and potential areas of greater collaboration. In the area of investments, the two parties identified the possibility of producing a new set of Investment Guidelines for Albania with the aim of supporting tourism projects focused on sustainability.

In the framework of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), together with the Albanian Agency for the Strategic Program and Aid Coordination (SASPAC), the forum included the most important topics within the strategic policies of the Albanian Government and UNWTO.

The high-level UNWTO delegation joined tourism leaders from across the region for the Future of Environmental and Sustainable Tourism in Albania (FESTA, Tirana, 3-5 April). Themed “Harnessing the power of South Eastern Europe through regional cooperation in tourism”, UNWTO will emphasize the vital importance of jobs, education and investment to build a more sustainable and inclusive tourism sector.

FESTA is platform for a range of panels and discussions amongst policymakers, entrepreneurs, operators of hospitality and all those who contribute to the shaping of this vital industry.

The Forum thematics was focused on the current trends of sustainable travel, using insights, while exploring the transformational power of the travel industry and jointly strategise how to move forward in the road ahead.

Being among important actors who are at the forefront of the profession, was also a great networking experience among all attendees, against a background of Albanian food, culture, music, and hospitality.

The forum explored the transformational power of the travel industry and jointly strategized how to move forward in the road ahead. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in discussions and panels on the future of tourism and gain insights into where the industry is headed. This was valuable for all professionals who want to stay informed and adapt their strategies accordingly.

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The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) celebrated tourism as a major factor of sustainable rural development at a special Best Tourism Villages ceremony to held in AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (12-13 March 2023).

© UNWTO and Travelindex

Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO (BTV) is the flagship initiative of the Organization’s wider work to advance tourism as a pillar of rural development and opportunity. Since 2021, BTV has produced an annual list of destinations which stand out for their commitment to sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and the preservation and promotion of community-based values. The ceremony brought together Ministers of Tourism alongside representatives of the most recent villages recognized by UNWTO, including AlUla Old Town District.

The initiative is one of the pillars of UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme. Every year, Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognizes destinations which stand out for their commitment to sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and the preservation and promotion of community-based values.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism is a leading pillar of growth and opportunity for villages, supporting rural businesses, providing jobs for local communities, and celebrating traditions and heritage. Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO recognises those destinations that are showing what tourism can offer, both for tourists as well as for the communities themselves.”

“We are delighted to host the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages 2022 Ceremony in Saudi Arabia this year. We look forward to sharing the rich history and heritage of the Kingdom with event attendees and participants,” said H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

© UNWTO

BEST TOURISM VILLAGES BY UNWTO

From Austria to Vietnam, 32 destinations from all around the world have been named as ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’ by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The accolade recognizes rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while preserving and promoting community-based values and products. The initiative also recognizes villages for their commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental – and a focus on developing tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A total of 136 villages were put forward for consideration by 57 UNWTO Member States (each Member State could nominate a maximum of three villages) for the 2022 edition. From these, 32 were recognized as Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO.

A further 20 villages will enter the Upgrade Programme. All 52 villages will also become part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Global Network created in 2021 which from this date gathers 115 villages from the five continents. The Network provides a number of benefits including onsite and online training, sharing of good practices and international brand recognition and awareness.

List of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2022

– Zell am See, Austria
– Wagrain, Austria
– Puqueldón, Chile
– Dazhai, China
– Jingzhu, China
– Choachí, Colombia
– Aguarico, Ecuador
– Angochagua, Ecuador
– Choke Mountains Ecovillage, Ethiopia
– Mestia, Georgia
– Kfar Kama, Israel
– Sauris-Zahre, Italy
– Isola del Giglio, Italy
– Umm Qais, Jordan
– Creel, Mexico
– El Fuerte, Mexico
– Ksar Elkhorbat, Morocco
– Moulay Bouzerktoune, Morocco
– Lamas, Peru
– Raqchi, Peru
– Castelo Novo, Portugal
– Pyeongsa-ri, Republic of Korea
– Rasinari, Romania
– AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia
– Bohinj, Slovenia
– Rupit, Spain
– Alquézar, Spain
– Guadalupe, Spain
– Murten, Switzerland
– Andermatt, Switzerland
– Birgi, Türkiye
– Thái Hải, Vietnam

Additionally, UNWTO will work with the following villages participating in the Upgrade Programme:

– Trevelin, Argentina
– Krupa na Vrbasu, Bosnia-Herzegovina
– Fontainhas, Cabo Verde
– Ninhue, Chile
– San Vicente de Chucuri, Colombia
– Barichara, Colombia
– Kalopanagiotis, Cyprus
– Pissouri, Cyprus
– Adaba, Ethiopia
– Khonoma, India
– Neot Semadar, Israel
– Otricoli, Italy
– Il Ngwesi, Kenya
– Grand Baie, Mauritius
– Bella Vista, Paraguay
– Istebna, Poland
– Ferraria de São João, Portugal
– Castara, Trinidad and Tobago
– Anıtlı, Türkiye
– Cumalıkızık, Türkiye

Applications in 2021 and 2022 were evaluated by an independent Advisory Board. The composition of this multidisciplinary board for 2021-2022 is as follows:

– Federico de Arteaga (PhD, Innovation Sustainability, 2022)
– Joel Callañaupa (Planeterra, 2022)
– Mari Dunleavy (ICCA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, 2022)
– Ahmed Eiweida (World Bank, 2022)
– Elena García Garrido (ENRD, 2022)
– Christian Gsodam (ECR European Committee of the Regions, 2021-2022)
– Amran Hamzah (CIPD Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2021-2022)
– Ena Harvey (ICCA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, 2021)
– Lázaro Israel (Member of the Panel of Experts International Fund for Cultural Diversity at UNESCO, 2021-2022)
– (Dr.) Manal Kelig (ATTA Adventure Travel Trade Association, 2021-2022)
– Judy Kepher Gona (STTA Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda, 2021-2022)
– Fergus Maclaren (ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee, 2021-2022)
– Joxe Mari Aizega (BCC Basque Culinary Center, 2021)
– David Mora Gómez (BCC Basque Culinary Center,2022)
– Ximena Muñoz Vivas (Instituto Design Thinking, 2021-2022)
– Fabrizio Angelo Orlando (TripAdvisor, 2021-2022)
– Helena Rey de Assis (UNEP – UN Environment Programme, 2021)
– Jacqui Taylor (Agritourism Africa, 2022)
– Peter Wostner (Researcher and Policy Expert. Chairman of the Working Party on Rural Policy at OECD, 2021)
– (Dr.) Endo Yoshihide (FAO Food and Agriculture Organization, 2021-2022)

PODCAST: Voyages Afriq talks to Sandra Carvao, the head of Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at UNWTO reveals the goals and objectives of the Best Tourism Villages project and its unique role in transforming rural communities.

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The small desert oasis of AlUla is located in the north-western part of Saudi Arabia in a valley surrounded by sandstone cliffs. The scenery is awe-inspiring, with rocky outcrops, sand dunes, and ancient ruins. The AlUla region is home to some of the most breathtaking natural and man-made wonders in the world and has been inhabited for thousands of years.

AlUla Old Town has been awarded the title of Best Tourism Village by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The UNWTO Best Tourism Villages initiative has captured the imagination of destinations, travellers and media outlets all around the world and the Awards Ceremony of the second edition took place at the magnificent Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla on March 12, 2023.

© all photos by Travelindex

One of the most significant attractions in AlUla is the ancient city of Hegra. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest conserved site of the Nabataean Kingdom outside of Petra, Jordan. The city dates back to the first century BCE, and it is home to over 100 tombs that are carved into the sandstone cliffs. The tombs are decorated with intricate carvings and inscriptions, and they provide a fascinating insight into the Nabataean culture.

Explore the ancient city of Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms and is an important archaeological site. It contains remains of impressive structures, including temples, palaces, and fortifications, that provide a glimpse into the advanced civilization of the Dadanites. The city dates back between the late 9th and early 8th century BCE (Kingdom of Dadan) and 5th–2nd century BCE (Kingdom of Lihyan). The civilization of Dadan and its people, known as the Dadanites were contemporaries of other ancient Near Eastern civilizations, such as the Assyrians and Babylonians.

Another must-see attraction in AlUla is the Elephant Rock. This natural wonder is a huge rock formation that looks like an elephant. The rock is over 50 meters high, and it is located in the middle of the desert. Visitors can climb to the top of the rock and take in the stunning views of the surrounding desert landscape.

© Travelindex & Leslie Graham

One of the most unique attractions in AlUla is the Maraya Concert Hall. This futuristic concert hall is made entirely of mirrors, and it is the largest mirrored building in the world. The hall can seat up to 500 people, and welcomes some of the most innovative music and art performances in the region.

In AlUla visitors discover some of the most beautiful desert landscapes in the world. The region is known for its sand dunes, and tourists can take a camel or 4×4 ride through the desert to explore the area. The sunsets in AlUla are particularly stunning, and they provide a perfect backdrop for a romantic dinner or a quiet evening with friends.

In addition to its natural and cultural attractions, AlUla hosts several of the most luxurious hotels in the world. The resorts in AlUla are designed to blend in with the surrounding desert landscape, and they offer visitors a chance to experience the best of traditional Saudi hospitality.

Where?

AlUla, is an ancient oasis city located in Medina province of northwestern Saudi Arabia. Located at the crossroads of continents, Saudi Arabia has been a fantastic meeting point for civilizations who left behind an abundant heritage. AlUla is an eloquent symbol of this richness.

Don’t miss

Hegra: Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dadan: AlUla was the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, which controlled the caravan trade in the first millennium BCE.
Jabal Ikmah: Thousands of pre-Arabic and more than 450 early Arabic inscriptions are engraved in Aramaic, Dadanitic, Thamudic, Minaic and Nabataean, onto steep cliffs, referred to as “open library”, they tell the stories of the several civilisations that thrived in AlUla.
AlUla Old Town: AlUla Old Town is a labyrinth of tightly packed streets lined with mudbrick houses, shops and squares. Above it all, a 10th-century fort still watches over the town and its scenic desert valley.
AlUla Cultural Oasis: The oasis is a lush and fertile plain with sustainable farming at its core, together with some idyllic walking trails and a fine collection of cafes and restaurants.

When to go

Winter, typically October through April, is the best time to visit AlUla, with temperatures ranging from a pleasant 10–25 degrees Celsius (45–70 degrees Fahrenheit).

Where to stay

Banyan Tree AlUla, Habitas AlUla, Sahary AlUla Resort, Shaden Resort AlUla

Essentials to pack

Visitors, men and women, should wear comfortable, loose clothing with walking or hiking shoes to travel around AlUlas varied terrains and landscapes. Pack sun protection and dress in Layers. When packing, consider protecting yourself beyond just sunscreen.

How to get there

Saudia Air flies between AlUla and Riyadh, Jeddah and Damman. flydubai flies between AlUla and Dubai. flynas files between AlUla and Riyadh, Cairo, Kuwait and Dubai. The nearest airport is AlUla International Airport (ULH), which is located around 35 kilometers southeast of AlUla.

Map

Official website

Experience AlUla

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