Rural Charm And Sustainable Tourism: Turkey’s Best Villages Shine On The Global Stage

Published on October 19, 2025

Turkey has made a beardown effect connected nan world tourism segment pinch 4 villages being selected for nan United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) prestigious “Best Tourism Villages 2025” list. The nickname of Akyaka, Barbaros, Anitli, and Kale Ucagiz highlights Turkey’s committedness to agrarian tourism, sustainable practices, and preserving its taste heritage. These villages person earned a spot among nan world’s astir singular destinations for travelers seeking an authentic and enriching agrarian tourism experience.

The announcement was made by Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who emphasized that these villages not only showcase Turkey’s earthy beauty and rich | taste practice but besides embody nan principles of sustainable tourism. This world nickname places Turkey astatine nan forefront of agrarian tourism, providing a exemplary for different countries to follow.

The UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages Initiative

The UNWTO’s “Best Tourism Villages” inaugural intends to observe agrarian destinations that are committed to preserving taste heritage, promoting sustainable tourism, and supporting section development. This year, 52 villages from 29 countries were selected, retired of much than 270 applications, based connected their occurrence successful balancing tourism maturation pinch biology and taste conservation.

The villages were judged connected various criteria, including nan preservation of taste heritage, sustainable usage of earthy resources, and tourism’s domiciled successful enhancing section economical development. Akyaka, Barbaros, Anitli, and Kale Ucagiz stood retired for their holistic attack to tourism, pinch each colony ensuring that tourism benefits not only visitors but besides nan section organization and environment.

Akyaka: Preserving Nature While Promoting Development

Akyaka, located successful nan Mugla territory of Turkey’s Aegean region, is known for its breathtaking earthy beauty and unsocial architecture. The village, pinch its blend of accepted woody houses and lush greenish landscapes, has go a apical destination for those seeking a serene retreat surrounded by nature.

Akyaka was selected for its sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that improvement does not travel astatine nan costs of nan environment. The colony has preserved its earthy beauty while promoting eco-friendly practices, making it a cleanable illustration of really tourism tin thrive without compromising nan environment. Local residents are actively progressive successful preserving nan area’s rich | taste and ecological heritage, contributing to nan village’s increasing estimation arsenic a sustainable destination.

Mugla Governor Idris Akbiyik expressed pridefulness successful Akyaka’s recognition, stating that nan grant highlights nan region’s cultural, ecological, and section values, transforming Mugla into a globally recognized destination not conscionable for its beaches, but for its committedness to sustainability.

Barbaros: A Gem successful nan Heart of Izmir

Barbaros, located successful Izmir, is different colony that was recognized for its sustainable tourism practices. This charming colony has retained its rustic appeal, pinch an accent connected preserving section traditions, architecture, and cuisine. Barbaros has go known for its integrated farming practices, and nan colony useful intimately pinch section farmers and artisans to connection visitors authentic products that showcase nan region’s rich | heritage.

Barbaros stands retired for its efforts successful eco-tourism, offering visitors a chance to research nan surrounding earthy beauty, bask accepted agrarian experiences, and lend to nan section economy. The colony is simply a premier illustration of really mini communities tin clasp tourism while ensuring that section customs and practices stay intact.

Anitli: The Hidden Cultural Treasure of Mardin

Anitli, a colony located successful nan southeastern state of Mardin, has a unsocial history shaped by a blend of Arab, Kurdish, and Turkish cultures. This taste diverseness is reflected successful nan village’s architecture, food, and traditions, making it a fascinating destination for taste tourists.

Anitli was awarded for its efforts to sphere its humanities practice while fostering sustainable tourism. The colony has implemented eco-friendly practices and worked to guarantee that tourism helps to amended nan value of life for section residents. By maintaining accepted ways of life while embracing modern sustainable tourism practices, Anitli serves arsenic a exemplary for taste preservation and agrarian development.

Kale Ucagiz: A Mediterranean Heritage Destination

Located successful Antalya, Kale Ucagiz is known for its stunning Mediterranean coastline, rich | history, and sustainable tourism practices. The colony is surrounded by ancient ruins, including nan ancient Lycian metropolis of Simena, and offers a wealthiness of earthy and taste attractions. Kale Ucagiz has been praised for its efforts to equilibrium tourism improvement pinch nan preservation of its taste and earthy heritage.

In nickname of its outstanding tourism practices, Kale Ucagiz has been highlighted arsenic a cardinal illustration of really tourism tin lend to section improvement without compromising nan situation aliases taste heritage. The village’s sustainable tourism attack ensures that visitors tin research nan region’s rich | history while supporting nan section community’s economical growth.

Why This Recognition Matters for Turkey’s Rural Tourism

Turkey’s inclusion successful nan UNWTO’s “Best Tourism Villages 2025” database highlights nan country’s committedness to agrarian tourism improvement and sustainability. With nan summation of Akyaka, Barbaros, Anitli, and Kale Ucagiz to this prestigious list, Turkey is positioning itself arsenic a world leader successful sustainable tourism and agrarian development.

This nickname not only boosts tourism to these villages but besides sets an illustration for different agrarian communities astir nan world. By focusing connected preserving earthy and taste practice while promoting sustainable tourism practices, Turkey is ensuring that agrarian tourism becomes an important driver of section economies, creating jobs and improving nan livelihoods of residents.

Step-by-Step Guide for Visiting These Award-Winning Villages

1. Plan Your Trip:
   Akyaka, Barbaros, Anitli, and Kale Ucagiz are located successful different regions of Turkey. To sojourn each four, scheme a multi-destination trip. Check section carrier options aliases see renting a car for easier access.
2. Explore Local Heritage:
   Each colony offers unsocial taste and humanities sites. Don’t miss nan accepted architecture of Akyaka, nan integrated markets successful Barbaros, nan ancient ruins successful Anitli, aliases nan Mediterranean views successful Kale Ucagiz.
3. Experience Sustainable Tourism:
   Engage pinch nan section organization by purchasing locally made goods, visiting integrated farms, aliases participating successful eco-tourism activities.
4. Support Local Businesses:
   Enjoy accepted Turkish cuisine, handmade crafts, and integrated products while contributing to nan section economy.
5. Stay successful Eco-Friendly Accommodations:
   Many of nan villages connection eco-friendly lodging options that align pinch their sustainable tourism practices. Staying successful these accommodations helps support nan region’s biology goals.
6. Respect Local Traditions:
   Be mindful of nan colony customs, including section dress codes, taste practices, and respect for nature. Engage pinch nan organization successful a measurement that supports and celebrates their measurement of life.

Key Takeaways

• Award-Winning Villages: Akyaka, Barbaros, Anitli, and Kale Ucagiz person been recognized arsenic nan UNWTO’s “Best Tourism Villages 2025.”
• Sustainability and Culture: These villages item nan value of preserving earthy beauty, culture, and practice while processing tourism.
• Global Recognition: The grant brings world attraction to Turkey’s agrarian tourism and taste heritage, positioning nan state arsenic a leader successful sustainable tourism.
• Tourism Development: These villages service arsenic a exemplary for really tourism tin lend to section economies without compromising nan situation aliases taste identity.

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(Source: https://www.turkiyetoday.com/)