Historic AlUla Old Town was amongst villages included by UNWTO on its 2022 checklist of Best Tourism Villages
AlUla, the traditional crossroads of civilizations in north-west Arabia that’s now rising as a world vacation spot for cultural and pure heritage, would be the web site of the first-ever in-person assembly of representatives of the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO.
The villages, together with AlUla Old Town District had been acknowledged in December as a part of UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages (BTV) initiative, “recognizes villages that are an outstanding example of a rural tourism destination with accredited cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products, and lifestyle and have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social, and environmental.”
UNWTO have organized the primary iteration of the Best Tourism Villages Award Ceremony and assembly of the BTV Network in AlUla on March 12-13. The occasion will probably be a discussion board for knowledge-sharing on subjects reminiscent of finest practices, neighborhood empowerment, and public-private partnerships. It will even evaluate this system’s 2022 actions and 2023 work plan.
Delegates originating from Switzerland to Vietnam will collect at AlUla’s Maraya multi-purpose venue, which holds the Guinness file because the world’s largest mirror-clad constructing, with mirrors overlaying its 9,740 sqm floor. The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, is anticipated to attend.
The BTV program aligns with Saudi Arabia‘s Vision 2030, which aims to triple tourism’s share of the nationwide economic system to 10%. In 2019 Saudi Arabia launched eVisas for residents of 49 international locations, and this February the Kingdom launched a 96-hour stopover visa.
For the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) the gathering affirms AlUla’s legacy as a cultural crossroads. A spot of collaboration and cultural change for a millennia, there’s a pure synergy between the vacation spot and the UNWTO’s BTV program.
The inclusion of AlUla on the 2022 checklist is an accolade in assist of RCU’s cautious regeneration, cultural rejuvenation, and curated redevelopment of heritage locations. RCU is honored not solely by AlUla’s inclusion as a BTV however by its choice as host of this inaugural BTV international gathering.
HE Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, mentioned: “The Ministry is proud to partner with UNWTO to host the Best Tourism Villages 2022 Awards Ceremony and jointly convene the first meeting of the BTV Network in the historic destination of AlUla, one of the villages across the globe recognized for its innovative approach to transforming the tourism sector.”
Mr. Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO, mentioned: “For rural communities everywhere, tourism can be a true gamechanger in providing jobs, supporting local businesses and keeping traditions alive. The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO showcase the power of the sector to drive economic diversification and create opportunities for all outside of big cities.”
Eng. Amr AlMadani, CEO of RCU, mentioned: “This gathering of the world’s best tourism villages serves several purposes for RCU: it allows us to share insights with destinations that share our commitment to sustainable regeneration, it showcases Maraya as a leading venue for conferences. It also provides our guests with the opportunity to visit AlUla, including the remarkable site of Hegra, which in 2008 was inscribed as Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
