Ukrainian Villages Recognized as Some of the World’s Best: Zakarpattia’s Achievements and Inclusion in the 2025 Global Tourism Ranking
Two unique Ukrainian mountain communities — the villages of Kolochava and Sinevirska Polyana, situated in the picturesque Zakarpattia region — have earned well-deserved international recognition for their significant contributions to sustainable tourism development and cultural preservation.
These Ukrainian communities have secured positions in the prestigious list of the World’s Best Tourism Villages 2025, compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), as announced on the organization’s official website.
The list features 52 villages from across the globe — from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America — selected from over 270 applications submitted by 65 UN member countries.
Additionally, 20 villages joined the renewal program aimed at supporting their sustainable growth through improved tourism infrastructure and cultural conservation efforts.
All these communities became part of the largest global network of rural tourism destinations — Best Tourism Villages (BTV), created by UNWTO to promote local development, heritage preservation, and economic growth through tourism.
Secretary-General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, emphasized that this initiative demonstrates how tourism can serve as a powerful tool for shared prosperity, inclusive growth, and territorial cohesion.
The evaluation considered nine criteria, including economic, social, and ecological sustainability, resource conservation, management quality, infrastructure, and safety.
Kolochava, located in the Khust district within the Sinevir National Park, is renowned for its rich cultural traditions, with over ten museums, including ‘Old Village,’ showcasing traditional architecture and lifestyle, ‘Kolochava Narrow-Gauge Railway,’ depicting railway workers’ life, and ‘The Steiner Bunker,’ dedicated to local insurgents’ activities.
The village is a major hub for mountain tourism, with popular routes leading to Ust-Chorna, and features attractions such as the Bird Park, home to diverse bird species.
It is also the birthplace of the legendary outlaw Mykola Shugay, renowned for his just deeds.
Nearby, Sinevirska Polyana is also recognized, known for its proximity to Lake Sinevir and the Wolf Valley eco-park.
Its architectural landmarks include the wooden Church of the Intercession and a historic bell tower from the 18th-19th centuries, exemplifying traditional Carpathian sacred architecture.
This year, Lake Sinevir experienced its lowest water levels on record, raising concerns about environmental health.
The award ceremony took place on October 17 in Huchzhou, China.
The 2025 ranking also features villages from Slovenia, Japan, Mauritius, Argentina, and the UAE.
Notably, in June, mass protests erupted in Spain, Portugal, and Italy against uncontrolled overtourism, highlighting the delicate balance between tourism development and cultural and environmental conservation.