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Four Turkish villages have been named to the United Nations World Tourism Organization's "Best Tourism Villages 2025" list, placing Türkiye among the world's leading destinations for rural tourism experiences.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on Saturday that Akyaka from Mugla, Barbaros from Izmir, Anitli from Mardin and Kale Ucagiz from Antalya have been selected for their natural beauty, rooted cultural heritage and sustainable tourism approaches.
"These villages of ours, which stand out with their natural beauty, rooted cultures and sustainable tourism understanding, introduce Anatolia's wealth to the world," Ersoy said in a statement on his official social media account.
Ersoy emphasized Türkiye's comprehensive vision for rural tourism development by stating, "We view tourism not only as an economic activity but as a force that protects our cultural heritage, supports local development, and puts people at the center."
"With this understanding, we will continue to develop rural tourism across our country, keep local values alive, and share them with the world," he added.
The minister expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the initiative: "I thank everyone who contributed to this success and our EU and Foreign Relations Directorate for conducting the process meticulously."
The UNWTO's fifth annual "Best Tourism Villages" initiative recognized 52 villages from 29 countries, selected from over 270 applications from Africa, America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
The selected villages were evaluated on criteria including preservation of cultural heritage, sustainable use of natural resources, and tourism's contribution to local development. The award ceremony was held on October 17 in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Additionally, 20 villages were included in an "Enhancement Program" to support them in qualifying for the future "Best Tourism Village" designation.
With the new list, the "Best Tourism Villages Network" membership has reached 319 villages globally.
The UNWTO announced that applications for the sixth edition of the program will open in the first quarter of 2026.
Akyaka, in Mugla's district, located in the Aegean region and known for its natural beauty, was recognized as one of 52 rural communities selected for 2025.
Mugla Governor Idris Akbiyik expressed pride in the recognition, "This award demonstrates once again that Mugla is not just about sea, sand and sun, but also a global brand in terms of culture, nature, ecology and local values."
Akbiyik noted that Akyaka represents a rare settlement where development has been achieved while preserving nature, architecture, culture and lifestyle.
"This success shows that it is possible to develop while protecting nature and to open to the world while keeping local values alive. I hope this success will be an inspiration to all our districts," he said. The governor also thanked all institutions, local administrators, civil society organizations and the hospitable people of Akyaka who contributed to the achievement.
Kale Ucagiz village, connected to the Demre district in Antalya, also earned the 2025 award, recognized for tourism practices that support environmental and social sustainability alongside the economic development of local communities.
According to the Demre Municipality, the UNWTO evaluation process carefully examined nominees from over 60 member states. Kale Ucagiz stood out for its preservation of cultural and natural assets and tourism applications supporting local community economic development.
Demre Mayor Fahri Duran and his wife, Samiye Duran, accepted the award on behalf of Kale Ucagiz village at the ceremony in Huzhou.
"This award that Kale Ucagiz has won is a result of our determination to stand by the history, nature and culture of our district," Mayor Duran said.
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