Iraq nominates five villages for UN 'Best Tourist Villages' list

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Tourism has nominated five villages for the United Nations World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) annual "Best Tourist Villages" program, three of which are located in the Kurdistan Region. The ministry said it completed its evaluation of the candidates and submitted the shortlist to UNWTO. The villages will be assessed against criteria including rural development, preservation of cultural heritage and community-based tourism, according to the ministry. Detailed information about each nominated village was included in the ministry's official announcement. UNWTO's "Best Tourist Villages" program recognizes rural destinations that meet standards in sustainability, cultural value and tourism potential. The award list is expected to be released by the end of the year. Villages selected for the list are expected to gain international recognition through the program, according to UNWTO. No further details on the evaluation timeline were immediately available.