Trinidad and Tobago: Tourism Minsitry calls villages to register for UN Best Tourism Village 2024

Trinidad and Tobago: The Ministry of Tourism has called upon all the eligible villages across Trinidad and Tobago to apply for the UN Best Tourism Village 2024.

Since its inception, the initiative has been a beacon for rural destinations worldwide and celebrates their embrace of tourism as a force for sustainable growth and cultural preservation.

This global initiative by the United Nations' World Tourism Organisation highlights those villages where tourism preserves traditions and cultures, celebrates diversity, and provides various opportunities while safeguarding biodiversity.

It also recognizes outstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with natural and cultural assets that promote rural and community-based values, lifestyles, and products and have a clear dedication to sustainability and innovation.

While urging everyone to apply for this year's prestigious accolade, the Ministry said, "Visit www.mtca.gov.tt to access the application form, guidelines for application and Candidacy documents."

The submission deadline for villages is March 1, 2024, and while explaining the guidelines to apply for the same, the Ministry said that a village must possess a few features to be eligible.

The guidelines included having a low population density with no more than 15,000 inhabitants. The village should be located in a landscape with a significant presence of traditional activities such as agriculture, forestry, livestock, or fishing. The village must have shared community values and lifestyle.

This global initiative will highlight villages where tourism preserves cultures and traditions, celebrates diversity, provides opportunities, and safeguards biodiversity.

To submit the applications, individuals can contact the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

In 2022, Tobago's Castara was handpicked from among 130 applications worldwide to be part of this esteemed initiative by UNWTO, cementing its status as a model rural tourism destination.

The seaside village was submitted in that year and was selected for participation in the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Upgrade Programme. The Ministry of Tourism is anticipating that this year, one of the villages of Trinidad and Tobago could also win this highly prestigious award.