Best Tourism Villages Finalists to Represent Romania on the Global Stage
The Best Tourism Villages competition was won by the commune of Rășinari in Sibiu County, with a score of 141.33 points out of 150.
Among the finalists was Biertan, ranked second, from the same county.
The village of Ciocănești in Suceava County also obtained some of the highest scores in the national stage of the competition. The villages of Costești in Vâlcea County, Eibenthal in Mehedinți County, and Râu Sadului in Sibiu County ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
Best Tourism Villages was launched by the World Tourism Organization.
These competitions serve as international promotion tools.
The finalist villages will be eligible for inclusion in the offerings of international travel agencies.
The Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism will provide support during the global stage of the competition, where the three villages—Rășinari, Biertan, and Ciocănești—will be representatives and have the chance to be included in the Upgrade Program.
Associations, guesthouse owners, producers, the youth club, and the Sibiu County Council supported the initiative.
The organizer presented nine selection criteria, based on which the final scores were compiled.
These were related to cultural and natural resources, the promotion and conservation of cultural resources, economic sustainability, social sustainability, environmental development, tourism development and value chain integration, governance and tourism prioritization, infrastructure and connectivity, health, safety, and security. In the scoring process, photographs and videos presenting the destinations were taken into account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Romanian villages qualified for the global stage?
The villages qualified for the global stage of the Best Tourism Villages competition are Rășinari (Sibiu), Biertan (Sibiu), and Ciocănești (Suceava).
Who organizes the Best Tourism Villages competition?
The competition is launched and organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to promote sustainable rural tourism and cultural heritage.
What criteria were used to select the finalist villages?
Selection was based on nine criteria, including cultural and natural resources, sustainability, infrastructure, health, safety, and tourism value chain integration.