The Most Beautiful Villages of Bosnia and Herzegovina initiative will contribute to the development of the country’s rural tourism and the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage.
On December 14, USAID Turizam held an official ceremony to announce the 14 Most Beautiful Villages (MBV) of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This announcement unveils some of the most picturesque villages and draws attention to the hidden gems of the country.
The label Most Beautiful Villages is a concept launched by the French association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France in 1981. Its mission is to preserve and enhance its member villages’ heritage, to increase their popularity and thus promote their economic development.
USAID Turizam has supported the Association for Development of Rural Tourism in BiH Alterural —to lead the Most Beautiful Villages label implementation and management in BiH. With technical assistance of USAID Turizam, Alterural specified the eligibility criteria, including the Quality Charter and the methodological procedure. Following a public call and evaluation of applications, Bosnia and Herzegovina officially launched the Most Beautiful Villages initiative with the selection of the first 14 villages.
The main goals of the Most Beautiful Villages project are to preserve BiH villages by recognizing their natural and cultural heritage; to promote villages by raising awareness about their uniqueness and principles of conservation, and to strengthen their presence on the local and European tourist map. This will significantly contribute to the socio-economic development of rural areas, thus offering new economic opportunities and an alternative to youth leaving rural areas.
The awarding of the label by the Association Alterural is not an end in itself, but rather the beginning of a long-term collaboration with the labeled villages. The label entails the promotion and recognition of these villages, increasing the number of tourists visiting the areas. This increase in tourism must be handled in a way that allows the villages to benefit from the influx of visitors. USAID Turizam is dedicated to improving the quality of tourism services and products, while providing technical support in creating a sustainable business model for the Most Beautiful Villages label. Through training tailored to the improvement of tourism offerings, services, design, promotion, and advisory assistance, Turizam works to strengthen entrepreneurs in selected villages, ultimately promoting an enhanced experience for tourists and locals alike.
For a map and basic info about the 14 Most Beautiful Villages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, visit the link: https://bit.ly/3G3HIrx
